Tamati Ellison
Encyclopedia
Tamati Ellison (born 1 April 1983 in Wellington, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union
footballer who plays for the Ricoh Black Rams
in the Japanese Top League
competition. His position is utility back. He previously played for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup
and Super Rugby for the Hurricanes
. In September 2011, Ellison announced that he would be returning to rugby in New Zealand, having signed with the Highlanders for two seasons from 2012.
, who plays prop forward for the Hurricanes. He is related to former American Football
player Riki Ellison
who played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers
and the Los Angeles Raiders. He is also a descendent of Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison, captain of New Zealand's first official rugby team in 1893 and a member of the New Zealand Natives football team which toured Great Britain and Australia in 1888/9.
. He first saw a picture of Meremaraea when he was a teenager at the home of his rugby coach, who also happened to be her uncle. Instead of wedding gifts they requested that guests donate to the Red Cross appeals for the Christchurch earthquake and the disaster in Japan. They have a son, Vini.
He captained the Junior All Blacks
to victory in the 2009 Pacific Nations Cup
, a year after winning the 2008 edition
as co-captain of the New Zealand Maori
, alongside Liam Messam
.
As well as the All Blacks, Junior All Blacks and the New Zealand Maori, he has also represented New Zealand at Sevens, U21 and U19 levels. He was part of the New Zealand Sevens team that won a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
in Melbourne.
At provincial level he made his debut for the Wellington Lions in the 2003 NPC
final defeat against Auckland. He also captained the Lions during the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup
, leading them to the final where they were once again defeated by Auckland. He was named as Wellington's Player of the Year for 2007.
He made his Super Rugby debut in 2005 for the Blues after being called into their squad as an injury replacement and appearing as a substitute in their final match of the season against the Waratahs
. He made his Hurricanes debut in 2006 and went on to make 10 appearances in total, all from the bench. His run-on debut came against the Chiefs in 2007. He made his 50th Super Rugby appearance during the 2010 season.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who plays for the Ricoh Black Rams
Ricoh Black Rams
Ricoh Black Rams is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. Placed 10th in the 2004-5 season which meant it had to win a play-off against one of the top regional teams to stay in the league, as it did.Slogan for 2006 season: TAFU...
in the Japanese Top League
Top League
The Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
competition. His position is utility back. He previously played for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
and Super Rugby for the Hurricanes
Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise)
The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...
. In September 2011, Ellison announced that he would be returning to rugby in New Zealand, having signed with the Highlanders for two seasons from 2012.
Family
He is the grandson of All Black Vince Bevan, who played six tests for New Zealand between 1949–50, and son of rugby coach Eddie Ellison. He is the older brother of Jacob EllisonJacob Ellison
Jacob Ellison is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays for the Hurricanes in the Super 14. He is the younger brother of teammate and utility back Tamati Ellison. Jacob plays the position of prop...
, who plays prop forward for the Hurricanes. He is related to former American Football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player Riki Ellison
Riki Ellison
Riki Morgan Ellison is a former linebacker, who went by Riki Gray while in college at USC as an All Pac 10 player in 1982.-College career:...
who played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
and the Los Angeles Raiders. He is also a descendent of Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison, captain of New Zealand's first official rugby team in 1893 and a member of the New Zealand Natives football team which toured Great Britain and Australia in 1888/9.
Marriage
In June 2011 he married Meremaraea Cowan at a vineyard in MartinboroughMartinborough
Martinborough is a town in South Wairarapa, a district in the Wellington region on the North Island of New Zealand. It is 65 kilometres east of Wellington and 35 kilometres south-west of Masterton...
. He first saw a picture of Meremaraea when he was a teenager at the home of his rugby coach, who also happened to be her uncle. Instead of wedding gifts they requested that guests donate to the Red Cross appeals for the Christchurch earthquake and the disaster in Japan. They have a son, Vini.
International career
He was chosen as one of four new caps for the All Blacks' 2009 end of year of tour to Europe and made his first and only New Zealand test appearance in the 20–6 victory against Italy in Milan.He captained the Junior All Blacks
Junior All Blacks
The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team....
to victory in the 2009 Pacific Nations Cup
2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
The 2009 Pacific Nations Cup is a rugby union tournament held between five national sides on the Pacific Rim: Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks. The New Zealand Māori team that won the tournament last year will no longer take part in this competition because of a decision taken by...
, a year after winning the 2008 edition
2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
The 2008 Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union tournament held between six national sides on the Pacific Rim: Australia A, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand Māori . The inaugural competition was held in 2006. This year the tournament started on 7 June and ended on 6 July 2008.The tournament...
as co-captain of the New Zealand Maori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
, alongside Liam Messam
Liam Messam
Liam Messam is a rugby union player who plays for Waikato in the ITM Cup and for the Chiefs in Super Rugby. He has also played for the New Zealand Maori in the 2006 Churchill Cup and was in the New Zealand sevens team that won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games...
.
As well as the All Blacks, Junior All Blacks and the New Zealand Maori, he has also represented New Zealand at Sevens, U21 and U19 levels. He was part of the New Zealand Sevens team that won a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
in Melbourne.
Rugby career
In March 2010, he confirmed he had activated a get-out clause in his NZRU contract to sign a three-year deal to play for the Ricoh Black Rams in the Japanese Top League competition. His agent reported that the deal was made in order to secure the financial future of Ellison's family.At provincial level he made his debut for the Wellington Lions in the 2003 NPC
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
final defeat against Auckland. He also captained the Lions during the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup
2007 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2007 Air New Zealand Cup was a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Thursday 26 July 2007, and the Final, in which Auckland defeated Wellington, was held on Saturday 20 October....
, leading them to the final where they were once again defeated by Auckland. He was named as Wellington's Player of the Year for 2007.
He made his Super Rugby debut in 2005 for the Blues after being called into their squad as an injury replacement and appearing as a substitute in their final match of the season against the Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
. He made his Hurricanes debut in 2006 and went on to make 10 appearances in total, all from the bench. His run-on debut came against the Chiefs in 2007. He made his 50th Super Rugby appearance during the 2010 season.