Rugby: Ellison named Junior ABs captain

Tamati Ellison. Photo / Supplied

Tamati Ellison will captain the Junior All Blacks contesting this year's IRB Pacific Nations Cup which begins in Fiji on Friday.

Ellison was co-captain of the New Zealand Maori team that won the 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

He has represented New Zealand at the Junior All Blacks, under-21 and under-19 levels and was a gold medal winning member of the New Zealand sevens team at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, Highlanders flanker Alando Soakai will join the squad tomorrow as temporary cover for Hawke's Bay's Karl Lowe who is on paternity leave.

Canterbury's Stephen Brett was yesterday announced as the replacement for Luke McAlister, who has been called into the All Blacks squad as replacement for the injured Richard Kahui.

- NZPA