Alan Rotherham
Encyclopedia
Alan Rotherham was a rugby union international who represented England
from 1882 to 1887. He also captained his country. Rotherham is best known for his part in revolutionising half-back play in rugby union
, being the first player to demonstrate how a half-back could be the connecting link between the forwards and three-quarters, and thereby paving the way for the passing game within the backs that is practised to the present day. His role in the development of rugby was recognised by the International Rugby Board
in 2011 with induction to the IRB Hall of Fame
under the theme of innovation and creativity.
, Warwickshire
. He was the son of John Rotherham, a watch manufacturer from Coventry and his wife Margaret. Alan was the eldest of at least five siblings, his younger siblings being two brothers, Kevitt (born 1864) and Henry (born 1870) and two sisters, Helen (born 1866) and Edith (borh 1867). Alan went on to attend Uppingham School
where he played for the cricket 1st XI in 1879-80 and was captain of that side. He also played for the school XV. He left in August 1881 and went to Balliol College, Oxford
to study jurisprudence in which he attained second class honours in 1885. He went on to become a barrister of Lincoln's Inn
and was a member of the Oxford and Cambridge Club
, Pall Mall. Alan was also the cousin of Arthur Rotherham
, who was the son of Alan's father's younger brother Alexander. In the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth century, players were listed by their initial and surname and the two cousins are often confused with each other. Compounding the confusion is the fact that they had similar backgrounds and playing careers and as Alan's ended so Arthur's began. Both were born in Coventry, both went to Uppingham School, both played for Richmond F.C.
, both played at half-back and both played for England and went on to captain the national side.
's famous Oxford Fifteen. His emergence into the top flight was all the more surprising to contemporary commentators because the style of football played at Uppingham School was not "the Rugby game proper". Under the captaincy of Vassall, Rotherham was given the leeway to turn the halfback position into a link between forwards and three-quarters, and unlocking the potential for the passing game to be played among the backs, whereas before that date the game was dominated by the forwards and by the practice of hacking. This innovation, and Rotherham in particular, has been attributed with revolutionising the half-back position in rugby. One New Zealand newspaper in a brief obituary to Rotherham wrote: "It is not too much, to say that he entirely revolutionised halfback play, and he particularly introduced the passing" game among the backs."
The practice of feeding the three-quarters from the scrum in itself did not originate with Rotherham. A reported example of such a pass was from the 1881 North vs South match in England when J. Payne slung the ball out to Bartram, who gained a try. However, Rotherham was said to have reduced the art to a science. He not only demonstrated the potential for a half-back to be the connecting link between the forwards and three-quarters, but also showed how this could be done through what has been described as opportune passing, the practice of fogging the opposing players' judgment over whether they ought to go for the half-back or the three-quarters he was intent on feeding. He was known to have been masterful at knowing when and when not to pass, sometimes decoying his tacklers to the three-quarter line and leaving the open field for himself. In the late nineteenth century, so entwined was Rotherham with the style of play that it was popularly called "Rotherham's game".
Despite the weight of opinion attributing the style to Rotherham, the claim that Rotherham was wholly responsible for the passing game as it came to be known is something that apparently Rotherham would have not agreed with.
Rotherham went on to play for Oxford in three seasons amidst what has been described as Oxford rugby's golden age and later played club rugby for Coventry and Richmond. He made his international debut on 16 December 1882 at St Helen's, Swansea in the Wales
vs England
match and was able to employ the technique used to such great effect at Oxford of unlocking the backs. Of the twelve matches he played for his national side he was on the winning side on eight occasions. Rotherham played in England's final game before their break from international rugby, on 5 March 1887 at Whalley Range, Manchester vs Scotland
match. During the next two seasons England were in dispute with the formation of the International Rugby Board
. When England returned in 1890, Rotherham was absent from the team sheet and did not play for his country again.
Commenting on his prowess as a half-back, it was written in 1898, after his early death, that he "is considered to have been the finest exponent of half-back play England has ever produced. Playing in front of such brilliant scorers as W. N. Bolton, G. C. Wade, A. M. Eyanson, A. E. Stoddart, and A. J. Gould at different times, his great forte was in making openings for his three-quarters ; while, unlike most brilliant attacking halves, he was also exceptionally good in defence. Arthur Budd writing in 1892 said of Rotherham "the equal of whom we have never, in my opinion, or
since seen."
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
from 1882 to 1887. He also captained his country. Rotherham is best known for his part in revolutionising half-back play in rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, being the first player to demonstrate how a half-back could be the connecting link between the forwards and three-quarters, and thereby paving the way for the passing game within the backs that is practised to the present day. His role in the development of rugby was recognised by the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
in 2011 with induction to the IRB Hall of Fame
IRB Hall of Fame
The IRB Hall of Fame is a hall of fame operated by the International Rugby Board that recognises special achievement and contribution to the sport of rugby union. The IRB Hall of Fame covers players, coaches, administrators, match officials, institutions and other individuals...
under the theme of innovation and creativity.
Early life
Alan Rotherham was born on 31 July 1862 in CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. He was the son of John Rotherham, a watch manufacturer from Coventry and his wife Margaret. Alan was the eldest of at least five siblings, his younger siblings being two brothers, Kevitt (born 1864) and Henry (born 1870) and two sisters, Helen (born 1866) and Edith (borh 1867). Alan went on to attend Uppingham School
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
where he played for the cricket 1st XI in 1879-80 and was captain of that side. He also played for the school XV. He left in August 1881 and went to Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
to study jurisprudence in which he attained second class honours in 1885. He went on to become a barrister of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
and was a member of the Oxford and Cambridge Club
Oxford and Cambridge Club
The Oxford and Cambridge Club is at 71 Pall Mall, London, England. The clubhouse was designed for the membership by architect Sir Robert Smirke and completed towards the end of 1837. It was founded for members of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge...
, Pall Mall. Alan was also the cousin of Arthur Rotherham
Arthur Rotherham
Arthur Rotherham was an English rugby union scrum-half who was a member of the first official British Isles tour and was later capped for the England team.-Personal history:...
, who was the son of Alan's father's younger brother Alexander. In the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth century, players were listed by their initial and surname and the two cousins are often confused with each other. Compounding the confusion is the fact that they had similar backgrounds and playing careers and as Alan's ended so Arthur's began. Both were born in Coventry, both went to Uppingham School, both played for Richmond F.C.
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
, both played at half-back and both played for England and went on to captain the national side.
Rugby union career
Alan Rotherham broke into the Oxford University side in his first year at the university in 1882 and became part of Harry VassallHarry Vassall
Henry Vassall was an English rugby union player, best known as a centre for Oxford University. Vassall played international rugby for England in the early years of the sport, winning five caps and scoring a hat-trick of tries in the first encounter between England and Wales.While at Oxford...
's famous Oxford Fifteen. His emergence into the top flight was all the more surprising to contemporary commentators because the style of football played at Uppingham School was not "the Rugby game proper". Under the captaincy of Vassall, Rotherham was given the leeway to turn the halfback position into a link between forwards and three-quarters, and unlocking the potential for the passing game to be played among the backs, whereas before that date the game was dominated by the forwards and by the practice of hacking. This innovation, and Rotherham in particular, has been attributed with revolutionising the half-back position in rugby. One New Zealand newspaper in a brief obituary to Rotherham wrote: "It is not too much, to say that he entirely revolutionised halfback play, and he particularly introduced the passing" game among the backs."
The practice of feeding the three-quarters from the scrum in itself did not originate with Rotherham. A reported example of such a pass was from the 1881 North vs South match in England when J. Payne slung the ball out to Bartram, who gained a try. However, Rotherham was said to have reduced the art to a science. He not only demonstrated the potential for a half-back to be the connecting link between the forwards and three-quarters, but also showed how this could be done through what has been described as opportune passing, the practice of fogging the opposing players' judgment over whether they ought to go for the half-back or the three-quarters he was intent on feeding. He was known to have been masterful at knowing when and when not to pass, sometimes decoying his tacklers to the three-quarter line and leaving the open field for himself. In the late nineteenth century, so entwined was Rotherham with the style of play that it was popularly called "Rotherham's game".
Despite the weight of opinion attributing the style to Rotherham, the claim that Rotherham was wholly responsible for the passing game as it came to be known is something that apparently Rotherham would have not agreed with.
- "There are some who would attribute to Rotherham all the virtues that go with the 'passing' game' but he himself would not have claimed this, for the Oxford fifteens of his day contained many players from Scottish schools, particularly LorettoLoretto SchoolLoretto School is an independent school in Scotland, founded in 1827. The campus occupies in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh.-History:Loretto was founded by the Reverend Thomas Langhorne in 1827. Langhorne came from Crosby Ravensworth, near Kirkby Stephen. The school was later taken over by his son,...
, and they, rather than anyone else, were the pioneers, if not the only begetters, of the passing game."
Rotherham went on to play for Oxford in three seasons amidst what has been described as Oxford rugby's golden age and later played club rugby for Coventry and Richmond. He made his international debut on 16 December 1882 at St Helen's, Swansea in the Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
vs England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
match and was able to employ the technique used to such great effect at Oxford of unlocking the backs. Of the twelve matches he played for his national side he was on the winning side on eight occasions. Rotherham played in England's final game before their break from international rugby, on 5 March 1887 at Whalley Range, Manchester vs Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
match. During the next two seasons England were in dispute with the formation of the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
. When England returned in 1890, Rotherham was absent from the team sheet and did not play for his country again.
Commenting on his prowess as a half-back, it was written in 1898, after his early death, that he "is considered to have been the finest exponent of half-back play England has ever produced. Playing in front of such brilliant scorers as W. N. Bolton, G. C. Wade, A. M. Eyanson, A. E. Stoddart, and A. J. Gould at different times, his great forte was in making openings for his three-quarters ; while, unlike most brilliant attacking halves, he was also exceptionally good in defence. Arthur Budd writing in 1892 said of Rotherham "the equal of whom we have never, in my opinion, or
Or
Or may be:* a grammatical conjunction* a logical operation indicating logical disjunction depicted as |, ∨, or simply orOR, O.R. or or may also refer to:* Or , a 2002 album by Golden Boy with Miss Kittin...
since seen."