[1] Clunies-Ross, a Cocos Malay from a Scots family, was the first non-white rugby union international player.

The Clunies-Ross family had originated in the Shetland Islands and both Alfred and his brothers had been sent to Scotland for education.

In a report found in the "St Andrews Gazette" of a cricket match played between St Andrews University and Madras College in March 1864 (in which Madras were victorious by 21 runs), the following is written about Alfred: "the very clever hitting and fielding of Affie Ross, a lively and smart little fellow, to all appearances not yet reached his teens".

Another reference is made of his playing a football fixture on 9 January 1869 at the Baxter Park, Dundee against Aberdeen University.

Although he then worked at St George's Hospital in London in 1873 he still did not attain a medical degree, as confirmed in 1885 when E.W.