Arthur Rotherham
Encyclopedia
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
.
in 1869 to Alexander Rotherham of Coundon Hall. He was educated at Uppingham School
before being accepted into Trinity College, Cambridge
in 1888, gaining a BA
in 1891. Rotherham began his medical career at St Thomas' Hospital
, London
before becoming a house surgeon at Nottingham General Hospital
. He later became an Assistant Medical Officer at several asylums; London County Asylum in Purley
, Horton Asylum and Manor Asylum in Epsom
, before becoming a superintendent at the Dareth mental home in 1911. Arthur was also the cousin of Alan Rotherham
, who was the son of Arthur's father's older brother John. 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.
, winning two sporting Blues in the Varsity matches of 1890 and 1891. Soon after, Rotherham is recorded as playing for Richmond
, then during the 1890/91 season he was picked for the invitational tourists, the Barbarians
. In 1891 Rotherham was selected to join Bill Maclagan
's British Isles team on their tour of South Africa
. Rotherham played in two Tests, the first at Port Elizabeth, paired at half back with William Wotherspoon
and the final test in Cape Town, this time partnered with Howard Marshall
. Both Tests resulted in wins for the tourists and saw Rotherham score with conversions in each of his appearances; making him the tour's top Test scorer.
Despite the experience he had accumulated as a rugby player, it took until 1898 for Rotherham to be selected for the England national rugby team. Still representing Richmond at club level, Rotherham was selected for the encounter with Scotland in the 1898 Home Nations Championship
, which ended in a 3-3 draw. He kept his place in the third and final game of the Championship, against Wales, and was reselected the next season for all three games of the 1899 Championship
. Rotherham was given the England captaincy for the entire 1899 tournament, which resulted in England losing all three matches, the first time this had occurred. Although the critics of the time were hard on the England pack during this season, only two players in the backs kept their place throughout the Championship, with four positions seeing a different player every single game.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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...
scrum-half who was a member of the first official British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
tour and was later capped for the England team
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...
.
Personal history
Rotherham was born 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...
in 1869 to Alexander Rotherham of Coundon Hall. He was educated at 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...
before being accepted into Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1888, gaining a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1891. Rotherham began his medical career at St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital is a large NHS hospital in London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It has provided health care freely or under charitable auspices since the 12th century and was originally located in Southwark.St Thomas' Hospital is accessible...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
before becoming a house surgeon at Nottingham General Hospital
Nottingham General Hospital
Nottingham General Hospital was the first properly constituted hospital in Nottingham, England.It was part of the area known as Nottingham Park, immediately to the north of Nottingham Castle and near the wharves, and was founded on land of which one half was given by Thomas Pelham-Clinton, 3rd...
. He later became an Assistant Medical Officer at several asylums; London County Asylum in Purley
Purley, London
Purley is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, England. It is a suburban development situated 11.7 miles south of Charing Cross.The name derives from "pirlea", which means 'Peartree lea'. Purley has a population of about 72,000....
, Horton Asylum and Manor Asylum in Epsom
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
, before becoming a superintendent at the Dareth mental home in 1911. Arthur was also the cousin of Alan Rotherham
Alan Rotherham
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...
, who was the son of Arthur's father's older brother John. 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 career
Rotherham first came to note as a rugby player when he represented Cambridge UniversityCambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
, winning two sporting Blues in the Varsity matches of 1890 and 1891. Soon after, Rotherham is recorded as playing for Richmond
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...
, then during the 1890/91 season he was picked for the invitational tourists, the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
. In 1891 Rotherham was selected to join Bill Maclagan
Bill Maclagan
William Edward "Bill" Maclagan was a Scottish international rugby union forward who played club rugby for London Scottish F.C....
's British Isles team on their tour of South Africa
1891 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1891 British Isles tour to South Africa was the first British Isles rugby union tour of South Africa and only the second overseas tour conducted by a joint British team. Between 9 July and 7 September, the team played 20 games, including three tests against the South Africa national rugby union...
. Rotherham played in two Tests, the first at Port Elizabeth, paired at half back with William Wotherspoon
William Wotherspoon (rugby player)
William Wotherspoon was a Scottish rugby union half-back who was a member of the first official British Isles tour and was also capped for the Scotland team...
and the final test in Cape Town, this time partnered with Howard Marshall
Howard Marshall (rugby player)
Dr. Howard Marshall OBE was an English rugby union half-back who played club rugby for Blackheath and Richmond and was a member of the first official British Isles tour in 1891...
. Both Tests resulted in wins for the tourists and saw Rotherham score with conversions in each of his appearances; making him the tour's top Test scorer.
Despite the experience he had accumulated as a rugby player, it took until 1898 for Rotherham to be selected for the England national rugby team. Still representing Richmond at club level, Rotherham was selected for the encounter with Scotland in the 1898 Home Nations Championship
1898 Home Nations Championship
The 1898 Home Nations Championship was the sixteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Five matches were played between 5 February and 2 April. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
, which ended in a 3-3 draw. He kept his place in the third and final game of the Championship, against Wales, and was reselected the next season for all three games of the 1899 Championship
1899 Home Nations Championship
The 1899 Home Nations Championship was the seventeenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 5 January and 18 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
. Rotherham was given the England captaincy for the entire 1899 tournament, which resulted in England losing all three matches, the first time this had occurred. Although the critics of the time were hard on the England pack during this season, only two players in the backs kept their place throughout the Championship, with four positions seeing a different player every single game.