Alan Rotherham

Full name

Alan Rotherham

Date of birth

31 July 1862

Place of birth

Coventry, Warwickshire

Date of death

30 August 1898 (aged 36)

Place of death

Marylebone

School

Uppingham School

University

Balliol College, Oxford

Notable relative(s)

Arthur Rotherham (cousin)

Occupation(s)

Barrister

Rugby union career

Senior career
Position(s)	Half-back
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
1881–83	Oxford University RFC Coventry RFC Richmond F.C.		()
National team(s)
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
1882–87	England	12	(Tries:2)

Senior career
Position(s)	Half-back
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
1881–83	Oxford University RFC Coventry RFC Richmond F.C.		()
National team(s)
Years	Team	Apps	(Points)
1882–87	England	12	(Tries:2)

Alan Rotherham (31 July 1862 – 30 August 1898) 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.

Alan Rotherham was born on 31 July 1862 in Coventry, 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.

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