About Desmond Oliver
Lived 1930 – 1997 (aged 66). Desmond Oliver was a New Zealand rugby union player and nephrology.
Desmond Oswald Oliver (26 October 1930 – 25 October 1997) was a New Zealand rugby union player and nephrologist.
Born in Palmerston North on 26 October 1930, Oliver was educated at Palmerston North Boys' High School, where he was a member of the school's 1st XV in 1948. He went on to study medicine at the University of Otago, graduating MB ChB in 1955.
A flanker, Oliver represented and, briefly, at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, on their 1953–54 tour of Britain, Ireland, France and North America. On that tour, he played 20 games, scoring 12 points, for the All Blacks, and appeared in two Test matches.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Desmond Oliver's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Desmond Oliver?
rugby union player
When was Desmond Oliver born?
Desmond Oliver was born on 26 October 1930 in Palmerston North.
When did Desmond Oliver die?
Desmond Oliver died on 25 October 1997 in Oxford.
What was Desmond Oliver's occupation?
Desmond Oliver was a rugby union player and nephrology.
What nationality was Desmond Oliver?
Desmond Oliver was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Desmond Oliver. https://biography.guide/desmond-oliver/
MLA: "Desmond Oliver." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/desmond-oliver/.
Chicago: "Desmond Oliver." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/desmond-oliver/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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