Thomas Ellison
Encyclopedia
Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison, also known as Tom Ellison (11 November 1867—2 October 1904) was a New Zealand rugby union
player and lawyer. He led the first New Zealand representative
rugby team organised by the New Zealand Rugby Union on their 1893 tour of Australia.
Born in Otakou
, Otago
, Ellison was the first Māori to practise as a solicitor after studying at Te Aute College
. At the first General Meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Ellison proposed that the playing colours of the Union should be black with a silver fern. He was the author of a coaching manual, The Art of Rugby Football in 1902. In 1892, he originated the wing forward system of play which was a vital element of New Zealand's rugby success until the 1930s.
Ellison died in Wellington
in 1904.
In 2005 Ellison was listed as one of New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers
.
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...
player and lawyer. He led the first New Zealand representative
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
rugby team organised by the New Zealand Rugby Union on their 1893 tour of Australia.
Born in Otakou
Otakou
The settlement of Otakou lies within the boundaries of the city of Dunedin, New Zealand. It is located 25 kilometres from the city centre at the eastern end of Otago Peninsula, close to the entrance of Otago Harbour.-Overview:...
, Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
, Ellison was the first Māori to practise as a solicitor after studying at Te Aute College
Te Aute College
Te Aute College is a school in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. It opened in 1854 with twelve pupils under Samuel Williams, an Anglican missionary, and nephew and son-in-law of Bishop William Williams. It has a strong Māori character.It was built on land provided by Te Whatuiapiti, a hapu...
. At the first General Meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Ellison proposed that the playing colours of the Union should be black with a silver fern. He was the author of a coaching manual, The Art of Rugby Football in 1902. In 1892, he originated the wing forward system of play which was a vital element of New Zealand's rugby success until the 1930s.
Ellison died in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
in 1904.
In 2005 Ellison was listed as one of New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers
New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers
New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers was a weekly television programme first shown on Prime Television New Zealand on 6 October 2005. 430 notable New Zealanders were ranked by a panel to determine the 100 most influential in New Zealand history...
.
External links
- Tom Ellison biography, by the History Group of the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage
- Tom Ellison biography, Dictionary of New Zealand Biography