John Batten (rugby union)

Batten first came to note as a rugby player when he represented Cambridge University while at St John's College. He won four sporting 'Blues' for rugby, and his first was in the very first Varsity Match between Cambridge and Oxford in 1872.^[4] Cambridge lost the first match, but Batten played in the next year's encounter and scored one of three tries in Cambridge's first Varsity Match victory.^[5] Batten played in both the 1874 and the 1875 matches, and was given the captaincy of the Cambridge team, both games ended in draws.^[5]

Batten won his first and only international cap for England in 1874. The game was played against Scotland in the third encounter between the two teams, and only the third international rugby union game to be played. Batten was positioned in his usual role as fullback, and although England won narrowly, he was replaced for the next season's match by A.W. Pearson.

• Marshall, Howard; Jordon, J.P. (1951). Oxford v Cambridge, The Story of the University Rugby Match. London: Clerke & Cockeran.