Obituary: Dewi Bebb
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Your support makes all the difference.Dewi Bebb became a national hero in Wales as one of his country's greatest wing threequarters. He was also one of the few former sporting stars who was able to leave a real mark on his second profession, having successfully made the transition from the playing field into the media as an outstanding television producer and editor with an intuitive eye.
Bebb leapt from the obscurity of Trinity College, Carmarthen's first team, into the Wales side to play England at Cardiff in 1959. The then 20-year-old had made only five first-class appearances, yet crowned his debut in the Arms Park mud with a try that helped win the game 5-0. His 34th and final international appearance also came against England in Cardiff in 1967, when Wales denied their rivals a Triple Crown with a staggering 34-21 triumph.
Bebb, who played his club rugby for Swansea and also re-presented United Services, Portsmouth, the Royal Navy and the Barbarians, scored 11 tries for Wales. He was renowned as one of the game's great finishers on the left wing. Blessed with a great turn of speed and lasting pace, as was amply demonstrated by his try against France in Paris in 1961 when he dribbled the ball three-quarters of the length of the field, he was also strong in defence.
He was selected for two tours with the British Lions, to South Africa in 1962 and Australia and New Zealand in 1966. He touched down for one try in his eight tests and on the 1966 tour he top-scored with 14 tries. In 1964, Bebb left teaching to join TWW, the independent television company serving Wales and the west. At first he presented the Welsh language programme Y Dydd, but later moved into sports commentary and production. He edited HTV's Sports Arena for many years and was heavily involved in the Rugby World Cup competitions in 1987 and 1991.
Robert Cole
Dewi Iorwerth Ellis Bebb, rugby player, broadcaster: born Bangor 7 August 1938; married Morwen Edwards (two sons); died Cardiff 14 March 1996.
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