Nelson College has produced 23 All Blacks and numerous Old Boys who have represented other countries, many playing against the All Blacks. Probably one of the greatest players produced at Nelson College during the late 19th century was Alfred Nolan Fell, but he chose not to play against his native country. Fell was selected to play for Nelson Province in 1896 while still at school but left New Zealand for Edinburgh in 1898 to study medicine. Fell was then picked to represent Scotland for four successive years from 1901 to 1904.
He was selected to play for Scotland against the ground-breaking 1905 All Blacks but refused to take the field against his countrymen. Fell was never picked for Scotland again. He is believed to be the first New Zealand-born player to represent against another major rugby playing country.
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