Charlie Oliver (rugby union)

Charles Joshua Oliver (1 November 1905 – 25 September 1977) was a New Zealand rugby union international who also represented his country in first-class cricket.

For people with similar names, see Charles Oliver (disambiguation).

Charlie Oliver
Birth nameCharles Joshua Oliver
Date of birth1 November 1905
Place of birthWanganui, New Zealand
Date of death25 September 1977
Place of deathBrisbane, Australia
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight76 kg (168 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Second five-eighth
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
Canterbury ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1929–1936 New Zealand 7 (6)
Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1923–24 to 1936–37Canterbury
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 35
Runs scored 1301
Batting average 23.23
100s/50s 0/9
Top score 91
Balls bowled 320
Wickets 1
Bowling average 169.00
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 1/35
Catches/stumpings 20/0
Source: Cricket Archive, 9 December 2014

Cricket career

Wanganui-born Oliver played as a specialist right-handed batsman and from 35 first-class matches scored 1301 runs at 23.23, with a best of 91. He represented Canterbury in domestic cricket, having debuted for them in the 1923/24 Plunket Shield. In the 1925/26 season he was a member of the New Zealand side which toured Australia and he made half-centuries against Victoria and South Australia.[1] He also toured the British Isles in 1927 with the national side.[2] He claimed the only wicket of his first-class career during this tour, that of Sussex bowler Reginald Hollingdale.

New Zealand didn't gain Test status in cricket until 1930 and by then he had decided to focus on his rugby, thus missing out on a chance to become a Test 'double international'.

Rugby career
Charles Joshua Oliver passport renewal application (1935)

Oliver's early rugby had been played with Merivale before he made his way into the Canterbury side. He toured Australia in 1929 and made his Test debut for the All Blacks in a match against Australia at Sydney, aged 23. For the 1935/36 tour of Great Britain, Oliver was vice-captain and appeared in four Tests. By the time he retired he had amassed seven Test caps and 33 All Black matches in all, for 58 points.[3]

He spent the final years of his life in Australia. His son-in-law Dave Gillespie was also an All Black.

References
  1. "First-Class Matches played by Charlie Oliver". CricketArchive.
  2. "New Zealand in British Isles 1927". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  3. "Profile: Charles Oliver". All Blacks.com.
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