Oliver Piper
Encyclopedia
Oliver Piper was a rugby union international who represented Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...

 from 1909 to 1910.

Early life

Oliver Piper was born on January 13, 1884 in Neath. He was the son of Oliver Stephen Southwell Piper (born 1855), a prominent figure in the British shipbuilding industry, and his wife Ann (born 1851). Both Piper's parents were English and Oliver spent much of his early life in England and Wales. He was one of six children, though two siblings died before adulthood. In 1898, when the docks at Passage West
Passage West
Passage West is a port town in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the west bank of Cork Harbour. It is some 10 km from Cork city, separated by the green belt from the urban sprawl of Douglas and Rochestown. The town has many services, amenities and social outlets...

, Cork, were bought by the Jacobs brothers, Oliver Piper's father Oliver Piper senior was brought over as managing partner of the firm, then called the Channel Dry Docks Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Limited. After two years Piper moved into Glenbrook House, Cork.

Career

Oliver Piper senior eventually bought the company he had been directing and re-established the concern as the Queenstown Dry Docks Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd and in so doing revived its fortunes. His efforts in bringing Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...

, then the First Lord of the Admiralty, on a guided tour of the Royal Victoria Dockyard when he came to view Cork Harbour in the summer of 1912 did not result in as much Admiralty work as hoped, although there were many ships needing repair. Early in 1917, the company was sold to Furness, Withy and Co. Ltd. and a new limited company, the Queenstown Dry Docks Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd., was formed. Oliver Piper junior was appointed managing director and by the end of 1917, some 800 workers were employed at Passage and Rushbrooke. By August 1919, the Albert Dry Dock had been extended into the river. However, by 29th December 1930, it was proposed to wind up the Queenstown Dry Docks Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd. and the concern was put in the hands of a liquidator.

Rugby union career

Piper made his international debut on Feb 13, 1909 at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...

 in the Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...

 vs England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...

 match.
Of the 9 matches he played for his national side he was on the winning side on 2 occasions.
He played his final match for Ireland on Aug 6, 1910 at Ellis Park
Ellis Park
Ellis Park may refer to:* Ellis Park Stadium, also known by its sponsored name of Coca-Cola Park, is a stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa* Ellis Park Racecourse, a thoroughbred horse race track in Henderson, Kentucky...

 in the South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...

 vs British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...

match.
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