Andrew Ernest Stoddart (original) (raw)

Andrew Stoddart encapsulated the Victorian ideal of a sportsman perhaps more than any other man. His main fame came on the cricket field where he captained England on two of the four tours to Australia he undertook, and in 1886 he scored a then world record 485 in a day for Hampstead after spending the entire night before playing poker. After his innings, still full of energy, he played a game of tennis and then went on to a dinner party.

On the rugby field, he played ten times for England as a three-quarter, and remains the only man to have captain them in cricket and rugby. Were it not for a dispute between the unions midway through his career he would have played more. He was quick, formed an outstanding partnership with half-back Alan Rotherham, and was renowned for his drop-kicking ability. In one county match he drop-kicked Middlesex to victory despite Yorkshire having scored four tries to their one - at the time a drop-goal counted more than any number of tries and this led directly to a rule change.

In 1887-88 he toured Australia to play cricket, and remained there to play a full season of rugby, missing the entire 1888 summer in England. With fellow cricketers Arthur Shrewsbury and Alfred Shaw, Stoddart organised the first rugby tour of Australia and New Zealand - considered the original British Lions trip - and took over the captaincy of the side when Bob Seddon was drowned.

Stoddart was no believer in coaching, arguing if the ability was there it would come out. After his playing career finished he was beset with ill health and financial troubles and he committed suicide in 1915.
Martin Williamson