Dewi Bebb

Dewi Iorwerth Ellis Bebb (7 August 1938 – 14 March 1996)^[3] was a Welsh rugby union player who won thirty-four caps for Wales as a wing. He later worked in television.

He made his debut for Swansea in a game against Llanelli in 1958. He remained with Swansea throughout his playing career, making 221 appearances, scoring 87 tries and captaining the team in the 1963–4 and 1964–5 seasons.

Early life

Dewi Bebb was the son of the Welsh historian Ambrose Bebb. After attending Friars School, Bangor he was conscripted into the Royal Navy. After the navy he studied at Trinity College, Carmarthen, and Cardiff Teacher Training College.^[4][5]

Rugby career

He made his first appearance for Wales against England in 1959, eventually winning thirty four caps between 1959 and 1967 and scoring eleven tries. He was selected for Wales' first overseas tour in 1964 and played in the Welsh rugby team's first match outside of Europe and its first in the Southern Hemisphere; played against East Africa in Nairobi on 12 May 1964, Wales winning 8–26. He toured with the British and Irish Lions to South Africa in 1962, playing in two of the four tests, and to Australia, New Zealand and Canada in 1966, playing in all six tests. He was joint top try scorer on the 1966 tour.

Television

Bebb was a originally a teacher by profession. In 1964 he joined the television company TWW, where he presented the Welsh-language news programme y Dydd [cy ]. He worked for the successor television franchise HTV, and moved to sports commentary and production work. He edited HTV's Sports Arena programme and was involved in covering the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups and two Olympic Games.^[2][6]

His son Sion is a professional golfer who has played on the European Tour.^[6]

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