Webster Richard

by Russell Gibbs/Geoff Pillinger/Mike Curling

Richard E Webster

Position: Flanker

Born: 9th February 1967 in Morriston, Swansea

Height: 6ft 2ins

Weight: 17st

Education: Cefn Hengoed Comprehensive School.

Achievements:

Honours: Wales (13 caps), British & Irish Lions (7 caps)

Debut game: 31st August 1996 v Orrell

Final game: 1st May 1999 v Northampton

Number of Appearances: 65

Career details:

Richard Webster, the former Wales rugby league and union international, was arguably Bath’s most successful rugby league recruit in that he stayed at the club for three seasons and captained the side. In total he made 65 appearances for the club, starting sixty of those games, and scored 17 tries a fairly regular return from the back row. Signed from Salford City Reds RL club at the start of the 1996/1997 season, Richard made a try-scoring debut in the opening league match of the season, a 56pts-13pts win away at Orrell. Like other Rugby League converts Robinson and Paul, Webster also bagged two tries against Swansea in the Anglo-Welsh Cup but it was an even sweeter moment for him as it was against one of his former clubs. He ended that first season having played 23 times and registered further tries against London Irish (away), Saracens (home), Otago (home), Sale (away) and Sale (home) in Bath’s record league win of 84pts-7pts. The following season saw Webster start in 17 of the club’s first 24 matches and he came on as a replacement in a further two games. The 1997/1998 campaign began with a try in the pre-season win over Newbury that proved he was in good form and he followed that up by beginning the opening league matches. He scored two further tries against Leicester (away) and in the narrow home cup win over London Scottish best remembered for the Simon Fenn incident. He was an ever present in the Heineken Cup winning side and etched a place in Bath history by touching the ball down to secure the trophy after Lisandro Arbizu had missed a sitter of a drop goal in stoppage time. After winning his medal he missed the rest of the season with injury. Webster was appointed captain for season 1998/1999 and played 23 times scoring six tries before joining Welsh side Bridgend and ending his playing days at the Brewery Field where he subsequently became head coach. Richard made his debut for Wales in the 1987 World Cup against Australia while travelling Down Under and receiving a surprise call-up. He played his last test match against France in 1993. In 2011 he was appointed Head Coach to the Wales U20s.

Bath Rugby Appearances: 1996/1997 – 1998/1999: 60(5)

Bath Rugby Points: 85 – 17t

British Lions Appearances: 7

British Lions Points: 5 – 1t

Wales Record: 13 caps: 1987 – Aus (WC), 1990 – Bar, 1991 – Arg (WC), Aus (WC), 1992 – Ire, Fra, Eng, Sco, Aus, 1993 – Eng, Sco, Ire, Fra

Wales Points: 4 – 1t