Hancock is best known as being the sport's first fourth threequarter player, which changed the formation of rugby union play that lasts to the present day.

He played his first international game under the captaincy of Joe Simpson against Ireland as part of the 1884 Home Nations Championship.

Hancock played two games in the 1885 Championship, a loss to England at St Helens and a scoreless draw in Scotland.

He discouraged kicking and made the team focus mainly on try scoring through the forwards gaining the ball for individual play from the backs.

Hancock was single minded and dictatorial in his approach as a captain, but his tactics were extremely successful, winning all bar one game and seeing just four tries scored against them.

Hancock's son, Ralph, played first-class cricket for Somerset in a few matches before the First World War.