[5] He left in August 1881 and went to Balliol College, Oxford to study jurisprudence in which he attained second class honours in 1885.

Compounding the confusion is the fact that they had similar backgrounds and playing careers and as Alan's ended so Arthur's began.

His emergence into the top flight was all the more surprising to contemporary commentators because the style of football played at Uppingham School was not "the Rugby game proper".

One New Zealand newspaper in a brief obituary to Rotherham reported: "It is not too much, to say that he entirely revolutionised halfback play, and he particularly introduced the passing game among the backs.

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.

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.

[1] He made his international debut on 16 December 1882 at St Helen's, Swansea in the Wales vs England match[1] and was able to employ the technique used to such great effect at Oxford of unlocking the backs.

[1] Rotherham played in England's final game before their break from international rugby, on 5 March 1887 at Whalley Range, Manchester vs Scotland match.