Jim Webb (rugby)

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

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.

Jim Webb

Jim Webb with the British Isles team in 1910
Personal information
Full name	Alfred James Webb
Born	Alfred James Webb[1] (1882-11-23)23 November 1882 Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
Died	29 July 1955(1955-07-29) (aged 72) Upper Soudley, England
Playing information
Height	181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	89 kg (14 st 0 lb)
Rugby union
Position	Lock
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 1907–12 Wales 20 0 0 0 6 1907–12 British Isles 3 0 0 0 0
Rugby league
Position	Prop, Hooker, Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1912–13 St. Helens 5 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]

•  Australia 1908,
•  England 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912
•  France 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911
•  Ireland 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911
•  Scotland 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912

British Isles

•  South Africa 1910 (x3)

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.