Jim Webb (rugby)

Alfred James Webb ((1882-11-23)23 November 1882 – 29 July 1955(1955-07-29) (aged 72)[2]) was an English-born international rugby union footballer who played club rugby for Abertillery, and county rugby for Monmouthshire. He won 20 caps for Wales, and was part of the 1910 touring British Isles team to South Africa.

For other people with the same name, see James Webb.

Jim Webb
Jim Webb with the British Isles team in 1910
Personal information
Full nameAlfred James Webb
BornAlfred James Webb[1]
(1882-11-23)23 November 1882
Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
Died29 July 1955(1955-07-29) (aged 72)
Upper Soudley, England
Playing information
Height181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight89 kg (14 st 0 lb)
Rugby league
PositionProp, Hooker, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1912–13 St. Helens 5 0 0 0 0
Rugby union
PositionLock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Abertillery RFC
–1912 Monmouthshire
Total 0 0 0 0 0
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1907–1912 Wales 20 0 0 0 6
1907–1912 British Isles 3 0 0 0 0

Webb was a strong forward player who was part of three Triple Crown Wales teams, and won 19 consecutive caps, all while playing for a 'second class' team, normally unpopular with selectors. On 22 December 1908, Webb while captain of Abertillery, lead his team against the first touring Australian team. The resulting 3-3 draw is one of the greatest days in the club's history.[3]

Webb is remembered as a powerful scrummager, strong at line-outs and mauls. He was a modest, proud and defiantly loyal man.[3]

International career

After a strong performance against the touring South Africans with county team Monmouthshire, Webb was capped for Wales against Scotland in February 1907. He would play for Wales a further 19 times. His final game was against Scotland in 1912 in which he led the pack in a rousing victory. The selectors though felt Webb was too old and too slow and he was dropped. Webb would later argue with the Welsh Rugby Union selectors and leave the game of rugby union. He joined St. Helens but would only play five matches for the team.[4]

International matches played

Wales[5]

British Isles

Bibliography
  • Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.
  • Thomas, Wayne (1979). A Century of Welsh Rugby Players. Ansells Ltd.

References
  1. Newport Gwent Dragons player profiles Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Jim Webb player profile Scrum.com
  3. Thomas (1979), pg 47.
  4. Thomas (1979), pg 48.
  5. Smith (1980), pg 473.
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