Conor Oliver

Conor Oliver (born 21 September 1995) is an Irish rugby union player for United Rugby Championship side Connacht. He plays as a flanker and represents Garryowen in the All-Ireland League.

Conor Oliver
Date of birth (1995-09-21) 21 September 1995
Place of birthSkerries, Dublin, Ireland
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight101 kg (15.9 st; 223 lb)
SchoolBlackrock College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2015 St Mary's ()
2015– Garryowen ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2020 Munster 27 (20)
2020– Connacht 63 (45)
Correct as of 17 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015 Ireland U20 3 (5)
Correct as of 15 June 2015

Early life

Born in Skerries, Dublin, Oliver first began playing rugby for Skerries Under-8s, remaining with the club until his Leaving Cert year, when he joined Blackrock College and won the 2014 Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup alongside current Irish international Joey Carbery,[1] with Oliver scoring his sides opening try in their 22–17 win against Clongowes Wood College in the final.[2]

Domestic career

Munster

Oliver joined the Munster Academy at the beginning of the 2015–16 season, having found his options limited with his native Leinster.[3] On 19 February 2016, Oliver made his competitive debut for Munster when he came on as a replacement for Tommy O'Donnell against Glasgow Warriors in a 2015–16 Pro12 fixture.[4] On 24 September 2016, Oliver scored his first try for Munster, having come on as a replacement for injured teammate Jack O'Donoghue in a 2016–17 Pro12 fixture against Edinburgh.[5]

He started in Munster's famous 27–14 win against Māori All Blacks in Thomond Park on 11 November 2016.[6] On 24 February 2017, Oliver made his first appearance for Munster as a Number 8, starting in the position in the fixture against Scarlets.[7] On 4 March 2017, Oliver came on as a replacement for Darren O'Shea in Munster's Pro12 fixture against Cardiff Blues, scoring a try in the 76th minute, converted by Rory Scannell, to help his side secure a 23–13 away victory in Cardiff Arms Park.[8] On 31 March 2017, Oliver started for Munster A in their 2016–17 British and Irish Cup semi-final against Ealing Trailfinders, setting up Sammy Arnold's try and scoring two tries himself in the 25–9 win against the English Championship side at CIT.[9]

Oliver was Man-of-the-Match in Munster's 10–7 win against Glasgow Warriors in Irish Independent Park on 8 April 2017.[10] On 21 April 2017, Oliver started for Munster A in their British and Irish Cup final victory against Jersey Reds.[11] On 4 May 2017, it was announced that Oliver had won the 2017 John McCarthy Award for Academy Player of the Year, having been nominated by his teammates for the award alongside Dan Goggin and Brian Scott.[12][13] On 1 June 2017, it was announced that Oliver had been promoted to the senior Munster squad ahead of the 2017–18 season.[14]

In late August 2017, Oliver underwent surgery for a shoulder injury and was ruled out until early 2018.[15] He made his return for Munster on 1 January 2018, starting against Connacht in a 2017–18 Pro14 fixture and earning the Man-of-the-Match award in Munster's 39–13 win.[16] He signed a new two-year deal with Munster in February 2018, advancing from a development to full contract.[17]

Oliver was ruled out for 14 weeks after dropping a weight on one of his toes during pre-season gym training for the 2018–19 season.[18] He made his return from the injury during Munster's Pro14 round 9 fixture against Italian side Zebre on 25 November 2018, replacing Chris Cloete during the second-half.[19]

Connacht

Oliver joined Irish provincial side Connacht in July 2020,[20] and made his debut for the province in their 26–20 win against Ulster on 23 August 2020.[21]

Ireland

Having been named in Ireland's squad for the 2015 Under-20's Six Nations Championship on 21 January 2015,[22] Oliver made his debut for Ireland U20 on 13 March 2015, starting for the side in their 19–12 defeat against Wales U20 at the Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay.[23][24] On 25 May 2015, Oliver was selected in the Ireland Under-20 squad for the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[25] On 6 June 2015, he started against Scotland U20 in a Pool C fixture, scoring a try in Ireland's 24–20 win, but also getting sin-binned during the game.[26] On 15 June 2015, Oliver started in the 5th-8th place play-off against Wales U20, which Ireland lost 22–12.[27]

Honours

Munster A

References
  1. "Catching Up With Conor Oliver". Munster Rugby. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  2. "Blackrock hold off sprited Clongowes in Senior Cup classic". Irish Times. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  3. "Catching Up With Conor Oliver". Munster Rugby. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  4. "Munster Lose Out In Thriller". Munster Rugby. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  5. "Bonus Point Win Bagged In Thomond". Munster Rugby. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  6. "Magnificent Munster Conquer Maoris". Munster Rugby. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  7. "Thomond Park Run Ends". Munster Rugby. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  8. "Munster Bounce Back In Cardiff". Munster Rugby. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  9. "Munster A Secure Home B&I Cup Final". Munster Rugby. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  10. "Munster Win Cracking Cork Encounter". Munster Rugby. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  11. "Munster A Claim B&I Cup Title After Cork Rollercoaster". Munster Rugby. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  12. "Munster Player Of The Year Nominees Announced". Munster Rugby. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  13. "Bleyendaal Is Named Munster Player Of The Year". Munster Rugby. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  14. "Five Academy Players Promoted to Senior Ranks". Munster Rugby. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  15. "Munster Side Named For Season Opener". Munster Rugby. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  16. "Five-Try Win For Munster Over Connacht". Munster Rugby. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  17. "Player Contract Update". Munster Rugby. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  18. "Positive news on O'Donnell but several Munster players remain long-term absentees". The42. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  19. "Report | Bonus Point Win in Parma". Munster Rugby. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  20. "Connacht announce signings of four players ahead of 2020/21 season". Connacht Rugby. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  21. "Friend's impressive Connacht notch deserved bonus-point win over Ulster". The42. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  22. "Ireland Under-20 Squad Announced For RBS Six Nations". Irish Rugby. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  23. "Gaffney Returns To Ireland Under-20 Team". Irish Rugby. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  24. "Byrne's Boot Not Enough For Ireland U-20s Against Wales". Irish Rugby. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  25. "Ireland U-20 Squad Confirmed For World Rugby Championship". Irish Rugby. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  26. "Ireland U-20s Win Close Encounter In Calvisano". Irish Rugby. 6 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  27. "Ireland U-20s' Fightback Falls Short Against Wales". Irish Rugby. 15 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
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