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Full Name: Tim Rodber
D.O.B: 2 July, 1969
Position: Number 8, Flanker and Second Row
Country: Wales (44 caps, 25 points) and British Lions (2 caps, 0 points)
Clubs: Oxford Old Boys, Petersfield RFC, Northampton
"The Mighty Tim" is still a name that puts fear into back row and halfback combinations throughout the world, many thanks to his domination of the midfield on many rugby parks throughout the late 80's and 1990's.
Tim began his career at Northampton Saints in 1987 while still in full time employments as a physical education tutor for the Green Howard's regiment as a graduate from Sandhurst. Standing 6'6" and weighing in at almost 18 stone of pure muscle but with the slight of foot that could shame most backs, Tim was an imposing figure on the pitch even in his rookie year. Not surprising really when you consider he leant his art as understudy to arguably the greatest back row player ever, Buck Shelford.
Well versed anywhere in the back row but equally adept to play in the boiler room, Tim quickly rose through the ranks both at club and international level, winning 35 caps for England, 235 for Northampton and two British Lions tours (plus a regular starter for the gold-medal winning England sevens side of 1990), collecting 4 Five Nations championships (3 Grand Slams and one Triple Crown) and 1 Heineken Cup during his career.
One of Tim's best remembered moments in international rugby was during an England vs. New Zealand test during the mid 90's, when Jonah Lomu's star was really beginning to shine. Not long after kick off, the powerhouse winger began another of his trademark bulldozing runs, brushing off tacklers with the ease that only he could. With only one man left to beat, it looked certain that the score would soon be 7-0 to the All Blacks, however big Jonah underestimated "The Mighty Tim". Burying his left shoulder deep into the big Aucklanders abdomen, Rodber managed to pick up the All Black legend, shunt him back five metres and dump him flat on his back before winning the turnover. The All Blacks still went on to win the game, but Rodber had cemented his place in history as the only man to ever dominate a player who many regard as the greatest ever.
It wasn't all good times for Tim throughout his career however, injuries constantly dogged him at every turn and his ruthless temperament would also regularly land him in trouble, especially during the 1994 tour to South Africa where he was one of only a select few England players to ever be red carded,
Tim retired in 2001 after a long and colourful career when he moved to New York with fellow Northampton team mate Harvey Thorneycroft to set up business in corporate information, where he remains to this day.
Tim will forever be remembered as England's greatest ever back row player and set the benchmark to which all loose forwards aspire to today.
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D.O.B: 2 July, 1969
Position: Number 8, Flanker and Second Row
Country: Wales (44 caps, 25 points) and British Lions (2 caps, 0 points)
Clubs: Oxford Old Boys, Petersfield RFC, Northampton
"The Mighty Tim" is still a name that puts fear into back row and halfback combinations throughout the world, many thanks to his domination of the midfield on many rugby parks throughout the late 80's and 1990's.
Tim began his career at Northampton Saints in 1987 while still in full time employments as a physical education tutor for the Green Howard's regiment as a graduate from Sandhurst. Standing 6'6" and weighing in at almost 18 stone of pure muscle but with the slight of foot that could shame most backs, Tim was an imposing figure on the pitch even in his rookie year. Not surprising really when you consider he leant his art as understudy to arguably the greatest back row player ever, Buck Shelford.
Well versed anywhere in the back row but equally adept to play in the boiler room, Tim quickly rose through the ranks both at club and international level, winning 35 caps for England, 235 for Northampton and two British Lions tours (plus a regular starter for the gold-medal winning England sevens side of 1990), collecting 4 Five Nations championships (3 Grand Slams and one Triple Crown) and 1 Heineken Cup during his career.
One of Tim's best remembered moments in international rugby was during an England vs. New Zealand test during the mid 90's, when Jonah Lomu's star was really beginning to shine. Not long after kick off, the powerhouse winger began another of his trademark bulldozing runs, brushing off tacklers with the ease that only he could. With only one man left to beat, it looked certain that the score would soon be 7-0 to the All Blacks, however big Jonah underestimated "The Mighty Tim". Burying his left shoulder deep into the big Aucklanders abdomen, Rodber managed to pick up the All Black legend, shunt him back five metres and dump him flat on his back before winning the turnover. The All Blacks still went on to win the game, but Rodber had cemented his place in history as the only man to ever dominate a player who many regard as the greatest ever.
It wasn't all good times for Tim throughout his career however, injuries constantly dogged him at every turn and his ruthless temperament would also regularly land him in trouble, especially during the 1994 tour to South Africa where he was one of only a select few England players to ever be red carded,
Tim retired in 2001 after a long and colourful career when he moved to New York with fellow Northampton team mate Harvey Thorneycroft to set up business in corporate information, where he remains to this day.
Tim will forever be remembered as England's greatest ever back row player and set the benchmark to which all loose forwards aspire to today.
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