Seddon played three matches for England in 1887, and in 1888 was one of only four capped players to represent Britain in the 1888 tour of New Zealand and Australia.

[9] Seddon first came to note as a rugby player when he was chosen to represent England during the 1887 Home Nations Championship.

Seddon was representing Broughton at the time of his first international,[10] and was one of five new caps brought into the pack for the opening game of the Championship, played away against Wales.

In 1888, a private venture by cricketers Alfred Shaw and Arthur Shrewsbury, saw a group of rugby players chosen to tour Australia and New Zealand.

He had ventured up river alone, and his teammates Jack Anderton and Andrew Stoddart found him dead some time later.

[13] A movement to raise funds for a monument to honour him was initiated by the Newcastle and Sydney Rugby Unions.

It reads: THIS TABLET is erected by sympathising friends and comrades in memory of ROBERT L. SEDDON, (Captain of the English Footballers), drowned in the River Hunter at West Maitland 15 August 1888, AGED 28 YEARS.