Hull FC release forward James Bell with immediate effect
Hull FC have released forward James Bell with immediate effect, clearing the way for the 32-year-old to take up an opportunity with another Super League club in 2027.
The club announced the decision on 7 November 2026. Hull FC published its statement under the headline "Bell Departs Hull FC", and the club said the release allows Bell to make his next move.
Bell joined Hull ahead of the 2026 season and made 18 appearances for the club. Before that, he spent four years with St Helens, where he scored nine tries in 81 games. Super League is England's top rugby league competition, and it is the one that Hull, St Helens and the rest of the top flight play in.
Forwards are the big, physical players in the pack. They carry the ball into contact, make a lot of the tackles and do the hard work up front that sets up the backs. Bell was one of those players, and his time at Hull ends after a single season.
Hull Daily Mail reported that Bell's departure is the 11th for Hull since the 2026 Super League season ended. That is a lot of change for one club in a short off-season, and it shows how quickly squads are being reshaped once the final whistle has gone on the campaign.
Hull's squad moves are also making headlines in another direction. TotalRL reported that fellow forward Josh Kerr is set to join Hull following Bell's exit. Kerr's move, if it goes through as reported, would bring a forward in as Bell heads out.
Bell's next club has not been confirmed. For now, the news is simple: a player who scored nine tries for St Helens and played 18 games for Hull is leaving, and the 2027 season will be his next chapter.
