Tamati Ellison 

Source: PhotosportWellington's Tamati Ellison

Tamati Ellison
Position: Utility back
DOB: 01/04/1983
Physical: 1.84m, 95kg
Province: Wellington
Tests: 1
Test Points: 0
Test Debut: 14 Nov 2009 v Italy in Milan

When a 10-year-old Tamati Ellison starred in an All Blacks commercial in 1993 singing "Stand by Me" it set in motion a dream that eventually became a reality. This quirk of history is a remarkable coincidence but there is no luck involved in Ellison being selected for the All Blacks. The talented utility back represented New Zealand under-19's in 2002 and the under-21's a year later and has been a permanent fixture of the Hurricanes since 2006. Ellison is also from a famous sporting family: his grandfather Vince Bevan was an All Black halfback in the 1940's and 50's, his great, great uncle Thomas Elision was the first ever New Zealand rugby captain while his second cousin, Ricki Elision, is a three-time Super Bowl winner with the San Francisco 49ers.