Ex-All Black makes shock late move to controversially debut in the NPC Final
Former All Blacks hooker Hika Elliot.
Former All Blacks hooker Hika Elliot is set to make his debut for the Wellington Lions in this weekend’s National Provincial Championship (NPC) final against Bay of Plenty in Wellington.
The 38-year-old has been a shock inclusion in Wellington’s matchday squad as their replacement hooker following the late withdrawal of Penieli Poasa due to injury.
Has plenty of experience
Elliot played in four Tests for the All Blacks between 2010 and 2015 and also represented the Maori All Blacks as well as the Chiefs and Hurricanes at Super Rugby level.
Leni Apisai will be Wellington’s starting hooker for the highly anticipated showdown at Sky Stadium on Saturday.
Elliot played for South Canterbury during New Zealand’s Heartland Championship this season but did not play in their latter matches, including a semi-final defeat to Mid Canterbury.
He represented the Mackenzie club in the South Canterbury club competition and in July Timaru-based club Harlequins was sanctioned after some of their players verbally and physically targeted him during a club match.
Wellington have lost the services of several hookers to injuries this season.
Another former All Blacks hooker in Wellington’s ranks
Another ex-All Blacks number two Dane Coles, who was still playing professionally in Japan earlier this year, has been part of Wellington head coach Alando Soakai’s backroom staff this season but they opted not to shift into the matchday squad.
Coles played his 90th and final Test for the All Blacks when he took to the field as a replacement in last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final victory against Ireland in Paris.
Wellington reached the NPC final after beating Waikato in the semi-final last weekend while Bay of Plenty claimed a victory over Canterbury in their last-four encounter.
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