Tamati Ellison skippers Junior All Blacks

Hurricanes back Tamati Ellison has been named captain of the Junior All Blacks squad for the 2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

Hurricanes back Tamati Ellison has been named captain of the Junior All Blacks squad for the 2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

26-year-old Ellison was co-captain of the New Zealand Maori team that competed at the 2008 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 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

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

As announced on Sunday, Canterbury's Stephen Brett has replaced Luke McAlister who has been called into the All Blacks squad as replacement for Richard Kahui.