| Date of birth | 1 April 1983 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Wellington, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Weight | 95 kg (14 st 13 lb) | ||
| School | Mana College, Porirua | ||
| University | Victoria University of Wellington | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Utility back, No 12 | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2010 – | Ricoh Black Rams | ||
| correct as of 14 August 2007. | |||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2003– | Wellington Lions | 33 | (61) |
| correct as of 14 August 2007. | |||
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2006 2005 |
Hurricanes Blues |
||
| correct as of 14 August 2007. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 2009 2007 |
All Blacks Junior All Blacks |
||
| correct as of 14 August 2007. | |||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competitor for New Zealand | ||
| Men's Rugby | ||
| Commonwealth Games | ||
| Gold | 2006 Melbourne | Rugby 7's |
Tamati Ellison (born 1 April 1983 in Wellington, New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays for the Highlanders in Super Rugby and Otago Rugby Football Union in the ITM Cup.
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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 Ellison, 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.[1][2][3]
In June 2011 he married Meremaraea Cowan at a vineyard in Martinborough. 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.[4][5]
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.[6][7]
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.[1][8]
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.[1][8][9]
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.[4][10]
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.[1]
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.[1][11]