Froude Hancock was born in Wellington, Somerset in 1865, the youngest of three brothers who all played for Cardiff. Froude played for the club in nine games between 1883 and 1887. Keen to represent the country of his birth at international level, Hancock moved to London to play for the Blackheath club, one of the leading sides of the time and source of many English international players. The move was a success and Hancock was selected for England and twice toured with the British Lions when they toured in 1891 and 1896 to South Africa. Hancock was also amongst the first Barbarian tourists under Percy Carpmael.
