Tim Rodber

{{Short description|British Lions & England international rugby union player}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Tim Rodber

| image = Tim Rodber.jpg

| birth_name = Timothy Andrew Keith Rodber

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|7|12|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Richmond, Yorkshire, England

| height = 1.98 m

| weight = {{convert|111|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}

| position = Flanker / Number eight / Lock

| amatyears1 =

| amatteam1 = Oxford Old Boys

| amatteam2 = Petersfield RFC

| amatteam3 = Northampton

| ru_amupdate =

| repteam1 = England B

| repteam2 = England

| repteam3 = British and Irish Lions

| repyears1 =

| repyears2 = 1992-1999

| repyears3 = 1997

| repcaps1 =

| repcaps2 = 44

| repcaps3 = 2

| reppoints1 =

| reppoints2 = 25

| ru_ntupdate =

| years1 = 1988-2001

| clubs1 = Northampton

| apps1 = 235

| points1 =

| ru_clubupdate =

| ru_currentclub =

| province1 =

| provinceyears1 =

| ru_provinceupdate =

| repsevensyears1 = 1993

| repsevensteam1 = England

| repsevenscomp1 = 1993 7s RWC

| ru_sevensupdate =

| coachteams1 =

| coachyears1 =

| ru_coachupdate =

| school = Churcher's College

| university = Oxford Brookes University

}}

Timothy Andrew Keith Rodber (born 12 July 1969) is an English former rugby union footballer who played at number eight, flanker or lock for Northampton Saints, England, and the British Lions.

Background

Rodber excelled at rugby from an early age, representing his school as well as local sides Petersfield R.F.C. and Oxford Old Boys RFC (see Oxford Harlequins RFC).

He attended Churcher's College and studied biology at Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University) on Army scholarships.{{cite news|title=Rugby Union: Double life of an officer and a hard man|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-double-life-of-an-officer-and-a-hard-man-five-nations-championship-lt-rodber-may-soon-have-to-choose-between-his-army-career-and-international-rugby-steve-bale-reports-1395106.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-double-life-of-an-officer-and-a-hard-man-five-nations-championship-lt-rodber-may-soon-have-to-choose-between-his-army-career-and-international-rugby-steve-bale-reports-1395106.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Independent|date=19 February 1994}}{{cbignore}}

Rodber was a captain in the Green Howards infantry regiment of the British Army and remained so even after rugby turned professional.{{cite news|title=Rugby Union: You and whose army? Rodber's|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-you-and-whose-army-rodbers-1191184.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-you-and-whose-army-rodbers-1191184.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Independent|date=13 December 1998}}{{cbignore}} He resigned in 2001 after retiring from the sport.

Playing career

In 1987 Rodber joined the Northampton Saints academy and went on to become club captain.

Whilst at Northampton he started in the victorious 2000 Heineken Cup Final as the Saints defeated Munster.{{cite news

| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/rugby_union/766699.stm

| title = Saints secure historic victory

| publisher = BBC

| date = 27 May 2000 |accessdate=7 September 2014}}

=International=

He made his debut for England in the 25–7 victory over Scotland in the 1992 Five Nations Championship.

He was part of the England team that won the 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens.{{cite news|title=Sport Editors: Magnificent Sevens|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sporteditors/2007/05/magnificent_sevens_1.html|publisher=BBC|date=24 May 2007}}

On the 1994 England tour of South Africa Rodber played a major role in one of England's best away performances of the decade during the 32–15 First Test win at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. "Has one ever seen an England team glisten in a ball-game with such a shimmering and sustained diamond brightness?" commented journalist Frank Keating. "Rodber and his forwards were quite stupendous from first to last." In the subsequent tour game against Eastern Province Rodber became one of the few Englishmen in the 1990s to be sent off when he was given a red card for reacting to violence including a stamp on teammate Jon Callard.{{cite news|title=Rodber: I wasn't up to captaincy|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rodber-i-wasnt-up-to-captaincy-6313512.html|work=Evening Standard|date=4 May 2001}} This incident may have possibly preventing his later selection as England captain.

Rodber said the aftermath of the sending off limited his physicality when playing, thus negatively impacted his play, until 1997.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/I+WAS+STUPID%3B+Shame+of+my+live+with+me%3B+Bok+sending+off+will+for+rest...-a061073253|title = I WAS STUPID; Shame of my live with me; Bok sending off will for rest of my life. - Free Online Library}}

Rodber earned selection to the 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa. He captained the midweek side against Mpumalanga, but was seen initially as behind the other number 8s for the Test side.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/edition/sport/british-amp-irish-lions-can-take-inspiration-from-the-class-of-1997-in-south-africa-j03j0cfjg|title=British & Irish Lions can take inspiration from the class of 1997 in South Africa|last1=Dallaglio|first1=Lawrence}} An injury to Scott Quinnell, and then Eric Miller catching flu,{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/eric-miller-lions-3441957-Jun2017/|title = 'I got the letter under my door to say I was starting but then I was told I wasn't in the 23'| date=14 June 2017 }} led to Rodber starting the First test. Rodber became one of the stand out performers during the tour. He was selected at No.8 for the first two Tests, both of which the Lions won to take the series 2–1.

Injury dogged Rodber's career. He was selected for England for the 1999 Rugby World Cup and was a replacement for the losing quarter final.{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/rugby_world_cup/teams/england/483381.stm|title = BBC News | England | Springbok marksman kicks England out}} Rodber retired at the end of the 2000/01 season.

Post-retirement

Rodber went into management after retiring and held executive posts including as Managing Director at London-based marketing and communications company Rodber Thorneycroft Ltd, which was acquired by Williams Lea in 2003. He then had stints as regional COO and CEO of Williams Lea. He worked for Middleton Advisors until 2013. In July 2013 he was appointed CEO of global workspace providers, Instant.{{cite web |title=Instant Group: Our Team |url=https://www.theinstantgroup.com/en-gb/our-team/ |website=Instant Group |access-date=5 October 2022}}

References

External links

{{ESPNscrum|10921}}
{{Webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20130505043221/http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/rugby/961.php |date=5 May 2013 |title=Northampton Saints Roll of Honour }}
{{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221195656/http://ackone.users.netlink.co.uk/rodber.html |title=Player Profile Page - Tim Rodber }}
[https://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby/england/tim-rodber-4113/international-rugby-caps_a04151/ Sporting Heroes profile]

Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:Army rugby union players

Category:Alumni of Oxford Brookes University

Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England

Category:England international rugby union players

Category:English rugby union players

Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Category:Green Howards officers

Category:North of England Rugby Union team

Category:Northampton Saints players

Category:People educated at Churcher's College