31 Facts About Thomas Ellison

Thomas Ellison led the first New Zealand representative rugby team organised by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union on their 1893 tour of Australia.

Thomas Ellison was recruited into Joe Warbrick's privately organised Native football team in 1888, and continued to play for both Poneke and Wellington on his return from that tour.

Thomas Ellison retired from playing rugby after captaining the 1893 New Zealand side to New South Wales and Queensland, but continued in the sport as a coach and administrator.

Thomas Ellison was the author of a coaching manual, The Art of Rugby Football, published in 1902.

Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison was born in Otakou at Otago Heads, to Raniera Taheke Ellison and Nani Weller, sometime between 1866 and 1868.

Thomas Ellison was named after his paternal grandfather, and his middle name, Rangiwahia, was given in honour of his great-uncle.

Thomas Ellison was Maori: of Ngai Tahu and Kati Mamoe tribal heritage through his mother, and of Te Ati Awa heritage through his father.

Thomas Ellison started playing organised rugby there, and during his final two years played in the school team that won the Hawke's Bay senior club championship.

Later in life Thomas Ellison claimed that at Te Aute he learned, "nearly all I ever knew of forward play".

Thomas Ellison was selected to play for the Wellington provincial team in 1885, and continued to be selected for Wellington until 1892.

Thomas Ellison played mostly as a forward throughout the tour, and played at least 83 of the team's 107 matches; including a minimum of 58 in Britain.

Again Thomas Ellison played in the forwards, and the Natives dominated for significant periods of the match.

Thomas Ellison made several strong runs, and at one point crossed the try-line only to be carried back into play.

Early in the second half Thomas Ellison attempted to tackle the English player Andrew Stoddart, and in the process managed to rip his shorts off.

Thomas Ellison was very critical of Hill; particularly because Hill was Secretary of England's Rugby Football Union.

Thomas Ellison claimed that he devised the position while playing for Poneke after he "found it impossible for the smartest of referees to detect and amply penalize off-side interferences of opponents bent on spoiling my passes".

Regardless of the origins of the position, Thomas Ellison was instrumental in promoting its adoption throughout New Zealand.

The white knickerbockers were eventually replaced with black shorts, and the uniform itself was based upon that worn by the Native team Thomas Ellison had toured with.

The first NZRFU sanctioned New Zealand team was formed to tour New South Wales and Queensland in 1893, and Thomas Ellison was selected as their captain.

Thomas Ellison played seven matches on the tour, including matches against New South Wales and Queensland.

Thomas Ellison's complete playing record comprised 117 matches, 68 of which were first-class games.

Thomas Ellison scored a total of 160 career points, including 51 tries.

Thomas Ellison continued involvement with rugby as a provincial administrator, provincial referee, and manager.

Outside of his involvement in rugby, Thomas Ellison was a lawyer, and was one of the first Maori admitted to the bar.

Thomas Ellison was involved in politics, and stood unsuccessfully for the Southern Maori parliamentary seat several times against Tame Parata, as well as working for government consideration of Ngai Tahu land claims.

Thomas Ellison married Ethel May Howell, a daughter of John Howell, on 22 March 1899; the couple had three children, only one of whom survived infancy, daughter Hinemura who died in 1989.

In 1904 Thomas Ellison was struck down with tuberculosis, and was admitted to Porirua Lunatic Asylum before dying on 2 October that same year.

Thomas Ellison was buried in Otakou, Otago Heads, following the original plan of a burial at Karori.

Representatives of Thomas Ellison's parents intercepted the body in Porirua, and his wife and Public Trustee then agreed for him to be buried at Otakou.

Thomas Ellison could take his place in the front of a scrummage, and hook the ball with the best of them; his tremendous strength enabled him to burst through a pack, and then, when he was clear of the wreckage, and was well in the open, he was a perfect demon.

Thomas Ellison has been inducted into the Maori Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2005 was listed as one of New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers.