Walter Roman

Walter James Roman (1 July 1880 – 28 July 1916 ) also known by the nickname of "Rattler", was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Somerset, and at club level for Bridgwater Dreadnaughts and Bridgwater & Albion RFC (captain), alongside Robert Dibble and Tommy Woods, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain (non-Test matches), England and Wales and the West of England, and at club level for Rochdale Hornets (captain), again alongside Tommy Woods, as a forward.

Playing career

International honours Walter Roman won a cap for England (RL) while at Rochdale Hornets in the 16–12 victory over Wales at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Saturday 14 February 1914.

Roman was selected for Great Britain while at Rochdale Hornets for the 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, he played in seven non-Test matches, and scored one try.

Regional honours Roman represented Wales and the West of England (RL) while at Rochdale Hornets in the 3–23 defeat by Australia on the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain match at Ashton Gate, Bristol in November 1911.

County honours Roman represented Somerset (RU) while at Bridgwater & Albion RFC.

County Cup Final appearances Walter Roman played as a forward in Rochdale Hornets' 12–5 victory over Oldham in the 1911–12 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1911–12 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 2 December 1911, in front of a crowd of 20,000.

Club career Roman changed rugby football codes from rugby union to rugby league when he transferred from Bridgwater & Albion to Rochdale Hornets in 1910 for a signing-on fee of £200 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £76,250.00 in 2018).

Outside of rugby Roman was the Licensed victualler of the Beehive Public house, St. Mary's Gate, Rochdale.

Genealogical information Walter Roman and his wife, Henrietta (née Washer), are buried together in Wembdon Road Cemetery in Bridgwater, along with Henrietta's brother, Clifford Washer.