Alderson played international rugby for England and was an original member of invitational team, the Barbarians.

[2] He received his BA in 1889 and that year took up the post of Assistant Master of Henry Smith School in Hartlepool.

He served his team well, leading them to a solid 7–3 victory over the Welsh away at Rodney Parade, and picked up his first international points when he converted two of the three tries scored by England.

For the remainder of the Championship Alderson led England to a victory over Ireland, but a home loss to Scotland, the eventual Triple Crown winners of 1891.

Alderson played one more international game, the opener of the 1893 Home Nations Championship, a narrow loss at the Cardiff Arms Park to Wales.