Oliver’s story takes a major twist in Oxford

ANTON OLIVER will not learn a more important life lesson during his Masters degree at Oxford University than the realisation which struck him early in a turbulent season with French side Toulon.

The former New Zealand hooker was earning in excess of £200,000 a year and he helped Toulon win promotion to the Top 14, with the promise of glamour fixtures against the likes of Stade Francais and Toulouse to come.

On the day Oliver was named in the Oxford side for today’s Nomura Varsity Match, he reflected on a journey that took him from the pain of a World Cup quarter-final defeat via the “madness of Toulon” to facing Cambridge at Twickenham.