Robert Oliphant (rugby player)

Robert Oliphant (1 December 1864 – 18 January 1956) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A wing-forward, Oliphant represented Manawatu, Wellington, Auckland and Hawke's Bay at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1893 and 1896. He played three games for the All Blacks but did not appear in any test matches.[4]

Robert Oliphant
Date of birth1 December 1864[1]
Place of birthOmagh, County Tyrone, Ireland[2]
Date of death18 January 1956(1956-01-18) (aged 91)
Place of deathAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[3]
Weight73 kg (161 lb)
Occupation(s)Builder
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing-forward
All Black No. 45
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1887–91
1892–93
1894–96
1900–02		 Manawatu
Wellington
Auckland
Hawke's Bay		 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1893, 1896 New Zealand 0 (0)

In 1897, Oliphant was awarded the silver medal of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia for saving a girl, Margaret Purnell, from drowning in Auckland Harbour on 29 May 1896.[5]

Following the death of Sir Henry Braddon in 1955, Oliphant held the distinction of being the oldest living All Black. He died on 18 January 1956 in Auckland and was buried at O'Neill's Point Cemetery in Bayswater.[6]

In January 1915, Oliphant volunteered for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and gave his date of birth as 22 January 1872,[3] but it is likely that he falsified this so that he would be considered young enough for service. He served in Samoa throughout the war, reaching the rank of armourer sergeant.[3]

References
  1. Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911
  2. Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958
  3. "Oliphant, Robert – WWI 19/323 – Army". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  4. Akers, Clive. "Robert Oliphant". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  5. "untitled". Auckland Star. 22 October 1897. p. 4. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  6. "Cemetery search". Auckland Council. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
Records
Preceded by
Henry Braddon		 Oldest living All Black
8 September 1955 – 18 January 1956		 Succeeded by
Henry Butland


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