Alfred James Webb ( –
Scrum.com) was an English-born international

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

footballer who played club rugby for

Abertillery Abertillery (; cy, Abertyleri) is a town and a community of the Ebbw Fach valley in the historic county of Monmouthshire, Wales. Following local government reorganisation it became part of the Blaenau Gwent County Borough administrative area. ...

, and county rugby for Monmouthshire. He won 20 caps for

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

and was part of the 1910 touring British Isles team to

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. 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.Thomas (1979), pg 47. Webb is remembered as a powerful scrummager, strong at line-outs and mauls. He was a modest, proud, and defiantly loyal man.

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 The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU; cy, Undeb Rygbi Cymru) is the Sports governing body, governing body of rugby union in the country of Wales, recognised by the sport's international governing body, World Rugby. The WRU is responsible for the running ...

selectors and leave the game of rugby union. He joined St. Helens but would only play five matches for the team.Thomas (1979), pg 48.

International matches played

WalesSmith (1980), pg 473. * 1908, * 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912 * 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911 * 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911 * 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912 British Isles * 1910 (x3)

Bibliography

* *

References

External links

Profile at saints.org.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Webb, Jim 1882 births 1955 deaths Abertillery RFC players British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Wales English people of Welsh descent English rugby league players English rugby union players Monmouthshire County RFC players People from Coleford, Gloucestershire Rugby league players from Gloucestershire Rugby union players from Gloucestershire St Helens R.F.C. players Wales international rugby union players Welsh rugby union players Rugby union locks