Alan Rotherham

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. 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.

Early life Alan Rotherham was born on 31 July 1862 in Coventry, Warwickshire. Alan went on to attend Uppingham School where he played for the cricket 1st XI in 1879–80 and was captain of that side.

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".