International rugby star and former All Black captain Anton Oliver is relishing playing for Oxford University after an unhappy end to his professional career.

The 33-year-old hooker, who won 59 caps for New Zealand, is studying for an MSC in biodiversity at Worcester College.

Oliver retired from international rugby after the 2007 World Cup and was playing for French club Toulon until this summer.

He flew out to Canada on tour with his new Oxford teammates this week, and should certainly add a bit of grunt to the Dark Blue pack.

Oliver said: "The amount that I will be training won't be anywhere near as much as I'm used to, but I won't have a problem with motivation.

"Last year I was desperately unhappy. I couldn't just keep playing for the money at Toulon.

"I didn't really know many of the other players that well. I was just playing for the money.

"I couldn't justify that to myself. Coming here is all my choice."

He added: "I'm looking forward to relative anonymity.

"I can make a fool of myself and no-one will really know.

"For me, school work is the priority.

"I've already done a couple of undergraduate degrees at the University of Otago.

"I was a full-time All Black, so rugby always came first. I never went to lectures because I was never there. I was getting notes off others.

"I want to fix that and this time put university first."

Having begun his rugby career as an amateur, Oliver feels playing for the Dark Blues will be an ideal way to end it.

"Also the whole Oxbridge atmosphere is amazing, it's really unique," he said.

"But I may be regretting that decision come November and December in the winter conditions!"

Oliver has had friends at Cambridge, who recommended the university experience, while he also spoke with former All Black and Oxford captain David Kirk.

"My role will be to play the best I can," said Oliver.

"First and foremost, I've got to play well on the field.

"I've been exposed to some top coaching in my career, but I don't want to come in and say 'this is how it happens'.

"I will just take it quietly.

"I'm doing an MSC in biodiversity, but I don't see a direct progression from that to a job.

"For me it was more to have a complete change and be something different."

The All Blacks will be coming over here for the autumn internationals, but Oliver says he has no regrets about retiring.

"This time last year I was at the World Cup," he said.

"I knew going into the tournament that that was it for me and the All Blacks.

"When I watch them now there's no desire for me to go back and play.

"I think that shows that I've let it go.

"I've still got strong interest in the team.

"I'm not quite sure how I will view the All Blacks when many more of my friends have finished.

"I realised that a huge part of my motivation to play rugby was to play for the All Blacks.

"When it came to playing for another team outside of New Zealand, it didn't really work."

Alongside rugby, and of course, study, Oliver has a few other activities to fit in.

He said: "I don't know the Premiership that well.

"I don't watch a lot of rugby in my free time. I do other things.

"I've got a pilot's licence, so I will look to fly planes.

"In New Zealand I collect art and antiques, especially Georgian, so I think I'm in the right place for that in Oxford.

'London is quite nearby, so I will try and see the art galleries."

Oliver's other hobbies include environmental groups, scuba diving and playing the guitar, but I suspect it will be on opposing front rows that he will make his biggest mark.