Oliver in twist over his naked ambition

Anton Oliver

He does not regret posing nude for an artist but Anton Oliver is annoyed at how he believes it has been portrayed.

Oliver elaborated yesterday on the brief statement released by the Otago Rugby Football Union that said he posed for Broad Bay artist and friend Simon Richardson on condition of anonymity. That agreement was shattered when the Sunday News ran a story headlined "Oliver exposed" that indicated Oliver had keenly offered his services as a nude model.

Oliver said he did not regret posing for the painting.

"No, not at all. The reason I did it is because I wasn't going to do it. I know that sounds strange," he told the Otago Daily Times.

"I thought, this is odd, I get naked around 30 guys every day, but getting a chap to paint me was making me squeamish. So I thought I'd get out of my comfort zone and give it a go."

Oliver was unimpressed with the coverage he received in the News. "What can a man do? I didn't want anyone to know about it but, once you find out the facts, it's not a big deal."

Oliver said he was not angry with Richardson for talking to the paper.

"Simon's an artist. He's not media-savvy and he virtually got set up."

Oliver was also not bothered by the reaction of All Black great Colin Meads, who told the paper the All Blacks were not "bloody film people doing ridiculous things". He believed that Meads was only commenting on the paper's version of events.

He expected the fuss to die down and did not expect it to lessen his interest in the art world.

"I want to enjoy my footy and art and be a contributing member of my society. I don't want to be involved in the sort of gossipy stuff."

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES