271:, Webbe and his team mates were refused service in a restaurant, being told that "we've got a policy, we don't serve black people in here". Recounting the incident for a BBC documentary in 2023, Webbe stated that once the Welsh team's coach realised what had happened he responded "if it's not good enough for Glenn then it's not good enough for us", before he "marched the whole party out of there and I'm still touched now."
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373:, Webbe said he believed rugby was "far more tolerant, (but) can’t be complacent". An ongoing debate throughout Webbe's career was whether or not he was overlooked for international selection because of his ethnicity. Webbe has responded to this stating that although there is no way of determining if that was true, he did not believe it to be the case, adding that "
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was capped in 1983 and is considered to be the first Welsh player of black origin. Webbe's exploits at the 1987 World Cup made him a cult figure in Wales. This, together with his reputation as a stoical but humorous personality and his notable try scoring ability have seen Webbe described as "Wales'
380:
Webbe has said that he witnessed "very little racism" during his rugby career, believing that some incidents which could be seen as racist were meant in good humour or were not "intentionally racist". Webbe has said he experienced "only one major incident of racism" in his career, during a match at
419:
to Webbe, before Thomas became one of the first professional athletes to do so publicly in 2009. Thomas has credited Webbe with being a "pioneer" and "a very special person", praising his attitude to sexuality. Webbe stated, "nothing changed to us, he was still the same
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coming from someone in the crowd, which was followed by a banana being thrown at his feet. Webbe's notable response was to calmly peel the banana and take a bite before throwing it back into the stand, an act which was greeted with clapping and cheering by the crowd.
337:, the decision was taken to allow Webbe to play on. Although evidently struggling with a head injury, Webbe seemed to play on instinct, and would even score a notable third try, sprinting ninety meters and beating a number of defenders to complete his
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decided to send Webbe home on safety grounds, meaning the player would miss Wales' third place finish. Webbe has since remarked that he has no memories of the match after the tackle, including his final try.
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among both
Bridgend supporters and Welsh rugby fans in general. Despite his early successes, Webbe would have to wait five years for his international call up, not being selected until the
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That Great Little Team On The Other Side of The Bridge:The 140 Year
History of Canton RFC (Cardiff) Season 1876-77 to 2016-17
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At the world cup, Webbe was given a rare start in Wales' second match against Tonga, being chosen on the right wing ahead of
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Despite growing up in Ely, attended Glan Ely
Comprehensive and winning recognition for his abilities in rugby,
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Webbe has spoken of his experiences as one of the first black players in Welsh rugby, commenting on
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Webbe was born in
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At the age of 18, Webbe accepted an offer to play top flight rugby with
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541:"How life turned out for Glen Webbe, the cult player Wales almost lost"
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and making his international debut on 12 June as a replacement against
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After the match, Webbe's concussion was examined and Wales
Manager
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629:"Meeting Mark Brown, the first black man to play rugby for Wales"
286:" in the Cardiff team, and that he may be better off elsewhere.
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During a tour of South Africa with the Wales youth team during
511:"Glenn Webbe: Black Welsh rugby star humbled by documentary"
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wasn’t black, and he was overlooked far worse than I was".
233:, he has since been described as "Wales first black icon".
714:"Rugby Union Diary: Webbe still works wonders on the wing"
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win against
England and was subsequently picked for the
221:(born 21 January 1962) is a Welsh former international
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357:Webbe is often incorrectly stated to be the first
225:player. Often incorrectly stated to be the first
398:In 1993, Webbe featured as a contender in the
83:76 kg (12 st 0 lb; 168 lb)
1093:Welsh people of Saint Kitts and Nevis descent
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245:) and Mike (a steelworker) were part of the
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734:"Webbe Recalls Historic World Cup Treble"
567:"Webbe recalls historic World Cup treble"
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361:to play rugby union for Wales. However,
1068:Wales international rugby union players
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446:"Glenn Webbe: Welsh Rugby's Black Icon"
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720:. Independent Digital News & Media
687:. Penarth, Glamorgan: Beacon Printers.
16:Wales international rugby union player
521:from the original on 22 February 2023
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7:
635:from the original on 21 October 2021
485:from the original on 20 October 2021
452:from the original on 20 October 2021
444:Jeremiah, Rhodri (16 October 2011).
278:and athletics, Webbe was advised by
310:. Webbe made his home debut in the
509:Bryan, Nicola (22 February 2023).
75:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
14:
658:. Random House. pp. 43, 69.
577:from the original on 6 April 2023
547:from the original on 7 April 2023
1058:Rugby union players from Cardiff
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1004:
736:. Welsh Rugby Union. 29 May 2019
712:Slot, Owen (25 September 1994).
692:Davies, Sean (9 November 2006).
627:Thomas, Simon (14 August 2021).
608:from the original on 9 July 2023
596:Davies, Sean (9 November 2006).
402:of the British television show
231:Welsh national rugby union team
219:Glenfield Michael Charles Webbe
35:Glenfield Michael Charles Webbe
371:racism in association football
312:1987 Five Nations Championship
304:1986 tour of the South Pacific
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1098:1987 Rugby World Cup players
694:"Tongan treble eludes Webbe"
598:"Tongan treble eludes Webbe"
341:, in a 29-16 win for Wales.
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415:have spoken about Thomas'
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353:"Wales' first black icon"
282:players that there were "
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1083:Black British sportsmen
656:Proud: My Autobiography
654:Thomas, Gareth (2014).
481:. Wa. 5 October 2019.
543:. 30 September 2018.
1073:Bridgend RFC players
803:1987 Rugby World Cup
683:Budd, Terry (2017).
159:International career
366:first black icon".
316:inaugural World Cup
247:Windrush generation
243:St David's Hospital
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1088:Canton RFC players
339:hat trick of tries
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88:Rugby union career
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413:Gareth Thomas
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738:. Retrieved
722:. Retrieved
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701:. Retrieved
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677:Bibliography
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637:. Retrieved
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487:. Retrieved
454:. Retrieved
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375:David Bishop
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331:Tali Ete'aki
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296:Bridgend RFC
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145:Bridgend RFC
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21:Rugby player
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1048:1962 births
869:K. Phillips
864:A. Phillips
854:R. Moriarty
849:P. Moriarty
806:third place
797:Wales squad
525:22 February
327:Ieuan Evans
320:New Zealand
300:cult figure
280:Cardiff RFC
223:rugby union
192:Wales Youth
98:Position(s)
26:Glenn Webbe
1042:Categories
834:Ph. Davies
756:Glen Webbe
639:1 November
581:1 November
489:20 October
456:20 October
428:References
417:coming out
405:Gladiators
363:Mark Brown
335:concussion
257:Queen Mary
237:Early life
141:Canton RFC
46:1962-01-21
32:Birth name
930:J. Davies
899:Whitefoot
819:Blackmore
740:9 October
724:9 October
703:9 October
698:BBC Sport
612:9 October
602:BBC Sport
422:old Alfie
269:apartheid
255:RMS
189:1986–1988
137:1981–1995
970:Thorburn
940:I. Evans
935:Devereux
879:Richards
839:S. Evans
824:Buchanan
812:Forwards
633:Archived
606:Archived
575:Archived
545:Archived
519:Archived
483:Archived
450:Archived
251:St Kitts
180:(Points)
130:(Points)
992:Coach:
955:Hopkins
894:Webster
884:Roberts
874:Rawlins
859:Norster
829:Collins
571:WRU.com
383:Maesteg
284:cliques
253:on the
194:Wales B
62:Cardiff
1012:Sports
975:Titley
950:Hadley
889:Sutton
662:
551:9 July
290:Career
80:Weight
72:Height
1026:Wales
980:Webbe
960:Jones
945:Giles
925:Dacey
920:Bowen
913:Backs
904:Young
844:James
394:Other
308:Tonga
197:Wales
165:Years
154:(169)
115:Years
66:Wales
995:Gray
965:Ring
760:IMDb
742:2019
726:2019
705:2019
660:ISBN
641:2021
614:2019
583:2021
553:2023
527:2023
491:2021
458:2021
208:(16)
186:1980
175:Apps
170:Team
125:Apps
120:Team
103:Wing
758:at
515:BBC
318:in
1044::
800:–
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