Tim Rodber

Tim Rodber

Birth name	Timothy Andrew Keith Rodber
Date of birth	(1969-07-12)12 July 1969
Place of birth	Richmond, Yorkshire,England
Height	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight	111 kg (17 st 7 lb; 245 lb)
School	Churchers College
University	Oxford Brookes University
Spouse	Diggy Rodber
Children	Freddie Rodber, Molly Rodber
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker/Number eight/Lock Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Oxford Old Boys Petersfield RFC Northampton () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1988-2001 Northampton 235 () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1992-1999 1997 England B England British and Irish Lions 44 2 (25) National sevens team Years Team Comps 1993 England 1993 7s RWC

Timothy Andrew Keith Rodber(born 12 July 1969) is an English formerrugby unionfootballer who played atNumber eight,flankerorlockforNorthampton Saints,England,and theBritish and Irish Lions.

Background

Rodber excelled at rugby from an early age, representing his school as well as local sidesPetersfield R.F.C.and Oxford Old Boys. He attendedChurcher's Collegeand studied biology at Oxford Polytechnic (nowOxford Brookes University) on Army scholarships.

Rodber was acaptainin theGreen Howardsinfantryregiment of theBritish Armyand remained so even after rugby turned professional.He resigned in 2001 after retiring from the sport.

Playing career

In 1987 Rodber joined theNorthampton Saintsacademy and went on to become club captain.

Whilst at Northampton he started in the victorious2000 Heineken Cup Finalas the Saints defeatedMunster.

International

He made his debut forEnglandin the 25–7 victory overScotlandin the 1992Five Nations Championship.

Good performances including helpingEnglandto win the1993 Rugby World Cup Sevenstitle.

On the1994 England tour of South AfricaRodber played a major role in one of England's best away performances of the decade during the 32–15 First Test win at theLoftus Versfeld Stadiumin Pretoria. "Has one ever seen an England team glisten in a ball-game with such a shimmering and sustained diamond brightness?" commented journalistFrank Keating."Rodber and his forwards were quite stupendous from first to last." However 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 teammateJon Callard.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.

Rodber earned selection to the1997 British Lions tour to South Africa.He captained the midweek side againstMpumalanga,but was seen initially as behind the other No. 8s for the Test side.However an injury toScott Quinnell,and thenEric Millercatching flu,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 the1999 Rugby World Cupand was a replacement for the losing quarter final.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 successful stints as regionalCOOandCEOofWilliams Lea.He worked for Middleton Advisors until 2013. In July 2013 he was appointed CEO of global workspace providers, Instant.

External links

• Tim Rodberat ESPNscrum
• Northampton Saints Roll of Honouratarchive.today(archived 2013-05-05)
• Player Profile Page - Tim Rodberat theWayback Machine(archived 2001-02-21)
• Sporting Heroes profile