{{Short description|South African rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Use South African English|date=June 2018}}

{{Infobox rugby biography | name = Oliver Zono | image = | fullname = <!--if different--> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|11|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Fort Beaufort, South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.75}} | weight = {{cvt|78|kg|lb stlb}} | school = Eyabantu High School | university = University of Fort Hare | relatives = | position = Fly-half | currentclub = {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}} | youthyears1 = 2009–2010 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} | years1 = 2014–2017 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} | apps1 = 44 | points1 = 192 | years2 = 2017–2018 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Southern Kings}} | apps2 = 9 | points2 = 23 | years3 = 2019–present | clubs3 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}} | apps3 = 13 | points3 = 87 | amatyears1 = 2013–2014 | amatteam1 = {{Rut|UFH Blues}} | amatcaps1 = | amatpoints1 = | clubupdate = 25 August 2019 }} '''Oliver Zono''' (born 26 November 1991) is a South African rugby union player for the {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}} in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Oliver Zono">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=36277 | name=Oliver Zono | date=7 June 2018}}</ref> His regular position is fly-half. As of 2020 he plays for '''Krasny Yar Krasnoyarsk''' in Russia.

==Rugby career==

===Border Bulldogs===

Zono was born and grew up in Fort Beaufort. He played youth rugby for the {{Rut|Border U19}} team in the 2009 and 2010 Under-19 Provincial Championships, before representing the University of Fort Hare in the Varsity Shield competition in 2013 and 2014.

He made his first class debut for the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}} in the 2014 Vodacom Cup, coming on as a replacement in their match against the {{Rut|Free State XV}} in Bloemfontein,<ref name="Toyota Free State XV 54-17 Border Bulldogs">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=118084 | homeid=17564 | awayid=17544 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Toyota Free State XV | homescore=54 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Border Bulldogs | matchdate=5 April 2014 | date=27 May 2016}}</ref> before making his first start a fortnight later in their match against the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}.<ref name="Regent Boland Cavaliers 41-17 Border Bulldogs">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=118234 | homeid=17534 | awayid=17544 | leagueid=1734 | hometeam=Regent Boland Cavaliers | homescore=41 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Border Bulldogs | matchdate=26 April 2014 | date=27 May 2016}}</ref> He made five appearances in the 2014 Currie Cup qualification series – scoring his first senior try in a 40–54 defeat to the {{Rut|Falcons}} in Kempton Park.<ref name="Valke 54-40 Border">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=119524 | homeid=18084 | awayid=18074 | leagueid=1774 | hometeam=Valke | homescore=54 | awayscore=40 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=28 June 2014 | date=27 May 2016}}</ref> – and two further appearances in the Currie Cup First Division.

He established himself as a regular in the Border team, finishing the 2014 Currie Cup First Division competition as his team's top scorer, despite making just two appearances. He scored 17 points (one try and 12 points with the boot) in a 30–32 defeat to the {{Rut|Leopards}},<ref name="Leopards 32-30 Border">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=154144 | homeid=29624 | awayid=29634 | leagueid=2334 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=32 | awayscore=30 | awayteam=Border | matchdate=19 September 2015 | date=6 April 2016}}</ref> and 14 points in his next match – a 44–20 win over the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} – via two tries and two conversions.<ref name="Border 44-20 Boland">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=154184 | homeid=29634 | awayid=29594 | leagueid=2334 | hometeam=Border | homescore=44 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=Boland | matchdate=25 September 2015 | date=6 April 2016}}</ref> He remained with the East London-based team until 2017, making a total of 44 appearances in four seasons.

===Southern Kings===

In August 2017, the Port Elizabeth-based {{Rut|Southern Kings}} franchise announced that they signed Zono for the 2017–18 Pro14 season, their first campaign in the competition after losing their Super Rugby membership.<ref name="Deon Davids to lead exciting Southern Kings team in Guinness PRO14">{{cite press release | url=http://www.skings.co.za/deon-davids-to-lead-exciting-southern-kings-team-in-guinness-pro14 | title=Deon Davids to lead exciting Southern Kings team in Guinness PRO14 | publisher=Southern Kings | date=15 August 2017 | access-date=16 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816002321/http://www.skings.co.za/deon-davids-to-lead-exciting-southern-kings-team-in-guinness-pro14 | archive-date=16 August 2017 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> He made his debut in that competition as a replacement in their Round Two match against {{Rut|Connacht}} in Galway,<ref name="Connacht up and running with victory over Southern Kings">{{cite web | url=http://www.pro14rugby.org/report/connaught-up-and-running-with-victory-over-southern-kings/ | title=Connacht up and running with victory over Southern Kings | work=Guinness Pro14 | date=9 September 2017 | access-date=10 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909230153/http://www.pro14rugby.org/report/connaught-up-and-running-with-victory-over-southern-kings/ | archive-date=9 September 2017 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all}}</ref> and started their next match at home to {{Rut|Leinster}}.<ref name="Leinster storm to bonus-point triumph over Southern Kings in South Africa">{{cite web | url=http://www.pro14rugby.org/report/leinster-storm-bonus-point-triumph-southern-kings-south-africa | title=Leinster storm to bonus-point triumph over Southern Kings in South Africa | work=Guinness Pro14 | date=16 September 2017 | access-date=17 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917004510/http://www.pro14rugby.org/report/leinster-storm-bonus-point-triumph-southern-kings-south-africa | archive-date=17 September 2017 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all}}</ref> He made a total of nine appearances in his debut season, kicking seven conversions and three penalties for a personal points haul of 23 points.

==References==

{{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zono, Oliver}} Category:South African rugby union players Category:Living people Category:1991 births Category:Rugby union fly-halves Category:Border Bulldogs players Category:Southern Kings players Category:Eastern Province Elephants players Category:Rugby union players from the Eastern Cape Category:People from Fort Beaufort Category:21st-century South African sportsmen