Anton Oliver

Anton David Oliver (born 9 September 1975 in Invercargill) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. who plays as a hooker for the Highlanders and the All Blacks. He has been an All Black since 1996 apart from a brief period when he was dropped. He plays for the Highlanders in the Super 14 and for Otago in the Air New Zealand Cup. However, he has been linked with a move to Toulon, currently battling for promotion to the French Top 14 and recently noted for signing veteran greats including former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and Australia great George Gregan, after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.^[1]

Early life

Oliver was born in Invercargill, New Zealand, and attended Marlborough Boys' College. He made his provinical debut for Marlborough against Nelson Bays in 1993. He also represented NZ Secondary schools and NZ Under 19s in 1993. In 1994, he represented NZ Under 19s and NZ Under 21s, and represented the Under 21s for the next two years. He moved to Dunedin in 1994 to attend the University of Otago, and made his debut for Otago that year. As a student he flatted with fellow All Blacks Simon Maling and Tony Brown.

All Blacks

Oliver made his All Blacks debut age 21, versus Fiji in 1997. He has currently scored a total of 10 test points (2 tries). Oliver created the first father and son captain combination for the All Blacks when he was appointed as All Blacks captain in 2001. Father Frank Oliver captained the All Blacks in 1978 and was one of the hardmen of New Zealand rugby. Anton was dropped from the All Blacks in 2003 after the test against England in Wellington 2003 by John Mitchell - the then All Black coach who cited a number of deficiencies in Anton's game as being the reason for his decision. He was a surprise recall to the team in 2004 for the end of the year tour reflecting a desire by the coaching staff for the All blacks to regain the forward power that so characterized the All black team of 95 - 97. Since then he has been, with Kevin Mealamu, the first choice hooker for the All Blacks. Anton has announced his retirement from the All Blacks at the end of the Rugby World Cup. Oliver has evolved into a "thinking man's rugby player" and spoke openly on the excessive drinking that once took place in the All Blacks camp in his book "Anton Oliver, inside" (2005). In this book he speaks unashamedly of how a young fan's letter to him made him rethink his loutish drunken behaviour as a young man and he praises Wayne Smith and Andrew Martin for getting the All Black ethos back to "where it belongs". He is erudite and is always worth listening to if involved in a post-match interview - no trite "all credit to the opposition" comments to be expected from him. Oliver has been a critic of building windfarms in Otago in New Zealand and in 2007 mounted a campaign against Meridian Energy's Project Hayes, a planned new 630MW windfarm. Oliver is a patron of the Coalition for Open Government.

Latest News

In May 2007, Anton Oliver signed a contract to play with French rugby club Toulon after the Rugby World Cup is over on 20th October 2007. There he will join up with legends of the world rugby game , including Springbok Victor Matfield, former Wallaby Captain George Gregan, former All Black Andrew Mehrtens and former All Black captain Tana Umaga. After 14 years in Otago playing rugby Oliver decided that it was time for a change. Turning down numerous offers to play rugby in the United Kingdom Oliver has chosen to play rugby in France which will be more of a cultural experience.

Notes and references

External links

• Anton Oliver at AllBlacks.com