Former All Black and current Māori All Blacks head coach Tamati Ellison (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Whakaue) will return to the Blues as an assistant coach, strengthening the club’s coaching team ahead of the 2027 DHL Super Rugby Pacific season.
Ellison will join incoming head coach Jason Holland’s management group later this year, bringing more than a decade of elite playing experience and an increasingly impressive coaching résumé spanning provincial, Super Rugby and international rugby.
The appointment marks another significant milestone in Ellison’s coaching journey, having progressed through roles with the Wellington Lions, Crusaders and the All Blacks, where he became a full-time assistant coach after initially joining the national side in 2023.
He will continue to lead the Māori All Blacks alongside his new role with the Blues, having recently coached the side in its opening fixture against the Japan XV in Nagoya.
Blues General Manager of Rugby Murray Williams says Ellison’s experience, leadership and ability to build strong relationships with players make him an ideal addition to the coaching group.
Williams says Ellison has consistently demonstrated his ability to develop players while contributing to successful high-performance environments across every level of the game.
Ellison says the opportunity to return to one of New Zealand rugby’s most iconic franchises was one he could not pass up.
He says the Blues possess a proud history, deep community connections and an exciting playing group, with the chance to work alongside Jason Holland presenting an opportunity to help build the club’s future success.
Ellison enjoyed a distinguished professional playing career, representing the Blues, Hurricanes, Highlanders and Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby before retiring from professional rugby.
At international level, he earned five appearances for the All Blacks, including four Test matches, while also serving as co-captain of the Māori All Blacks, becoming one of Māori rugby’s most respected leaders both on and off the field.
His achievements also include winning Commonwealth Games gold with the All Blacks Sevens team in Melbourne in 2006.
For Māori rugby, Ellison’s appointment continues a growing trend of Māori coaches moving into senior leadership positions across New Zealand’s professional game. His ongoing role with the Māori All Blacks also ensures strong connections between kaupapa Māori rugby and the country’s elite performance pathways.
The Blues will be hoping Ellison’s combination of tactical expertise, leadership and cultural knowledge helps strengthen the club as it prepares for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
His arrival adds further experience to what will be a new-look coaching team under Holland, with the club looking to build on its recent success and remain among the competition’s leading contenders.
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