Charlie Oliver

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.

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. He also toured the British Isles in 1927 with the national side. 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, by which time Oliver had decided to focus on his rugby, thus missing out on a chance to become a Test 'double international'. He continued to play senior club cricket in Christchurch, leading the competition's batting in the 1934–35 season with 972 runs and setting a record with five centuries.

Rugby career

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.

Personal life Oliver married Jean Frances Gurney in Christchurch in August 1936. He spent the final years of his life in Australia, dying in Brisbane in September 1977, aged 71. His son-in-law Dave Gillespie was also an All Black.