Tamati Ellison has been named captain of the Junior All Blacks squad set to compete in this year's ANZ Pacific Nations Cup.
Over the course of the growing tournament, the Junior All Blacks will face the three-pronged Pacific Island challenge of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, as well as Japan.
Ellison was co-captain of the New Zealand Maori team that won the 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup and has represented New Zealand at the Junior All Black, Under 21 and Under 19 levels.
He was a member of New Zealand's gold medal-winning Sevens team at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.
McAlister promoted to All Blacks
In other team news ahead of the tournament's kick-off, Highlanders flanker Alando Soakai will join the squad as temporary cover for Karl Lowe, who is on paternity leave, and Canterbury's Stephen Brett has replaced Luke McAlister in the JABs after McAlister was called up to the All Blacks squad as replacement for Richard Kahui.
Kahui is to miss rugby for up to six months to undergo surgery on an injured shoulder.
McAlister played for the Barbarians in their loss against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday and will join the All Blacks in Dunedin tomorrow.
25-year-old McAlister, who has played 22 Tests for the All Blacks, re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union earlier this year through to 2012 after a stint playing at Sale Sharks in England's Guinness Premiership.
The NZRU Board exercised its discretion over selection eligibility in April, allowing McAlister to come into the All Blacks squad if injury ruled out players.
"Luke returns to the All Blacks squad better for the rugby experience in the Northern Hemisphere and will provide us with more backline options for the Iveco Series and beyond," said All Blacks Coach Graham Henry.
