I agree with post #33 - Tamati is well overrated - he's not a game breaker, line breaker or match winner. Overrated - name one game where he where he was outstanding....exactly there isnt one. But good on him for making the most with his opportunities and putting his family first! Good Luck and show those japs up!

The Hurricanes game over the weekend has shown once again that Ellison is suspect under the high ball, it's a good move for him as he has limited oppourtunites for the ABs looming so should make the move.

Tamati has been a fine example of what my son aspires to be I went to school with Tamati and he excelled both in education and sport but always managed to balance work and life he was born and raised in porirua .If you ask me he's a fine example for others to follow any person who can put his family before there fame displays qualitys of his fine upbringing a tribute to his parents.I also knew his brother Jacob again a positive role model who is well educated and who's also just as good at rugby,the Ellison name has always had a good representation and there a family who have worked hard for what they want.Tamati I always knew u and Jacob would make it with this fine example of leadership it got me through school and this has attributed to who I am today-all the best and any man who stands by his decision and his family is a man worth honouring-Kia kaha e hoa!

Let's be real here, the AB's are on about $150k-$180k per year, but that's based on the number of times you make the named 22. So for Tamati's 2 games, he might have got $30k based on a 15 game season(ish). They then also get anywhere from $60k-$150k for their S14 contract based on seniority(I'd assume he's at the higher end of that), plus maybe another $60-$80k for their NPC contract, PLUS $40k odd for signing with their provincial union, which is seperate from their actual NPC playing contract. So that's a fat wicket regardless. Where the Japanese contracts are attractive is that you get twice that in total for maybe 1/3 of the number of games(which can obviously prolong your career) and in a much less intense competition.

Either way though, I agree with the other comments, it's a short shelf life career, that occurs at the time when most people want to start families, and you have to look out for number one. I'd certainly do an easier version of my job elsewhere for twice as much pay and half as much work.

Good on ya Tamati, you're an awesome player and would love to see you back in our hometown one day.

Well done Tamati - your manager is right..nice use of the All Blacks jersey we gave you last year to drive your asking price up.

In reality, if he was actually able to make the final squad for the world cup then we were in big trouble anyway.

Rugby? What's that?

Oh, you mean the game that Kiwis used to care about! The sport now so dead we should have a funeral for it.

Remember when the whole nation used to stop what it was doing to watch the footie? Now most people in NZ couldn't name an All Black younger than Sid Going.

Rugby is nothing more than a second-rate business these days, populated by prima-donna has-beens, never-weres, and could-never-bes.

I like Stuff Sports bias towards the Hurricanes(NOT!)

I have read the comments saying 'good on him..etc.'which is fair enough. However, you are all missing one vital point..it is the fact that he has become an All Black that has enabled him to command such a high salary, and it would have been good if he had shown some loyalty to the union that made him the player he is. I think Tamati is a gifted player and I was feeling good about him being in the W.C. lineup. To me it's like going through SAS training and then just before war is declared, buggering off to become a mercenary.On that note I only want players who will give their all for the country, so s'later Tamati..enjoy your money.

Good on you Tam. Hope you mere and bubs have a good time. To all you haters out there get over it. He's a family man supporting his family who comes first. Hey he also get's an o.e in Japan with his wife and son!!! Probley will get to spend more time with them too as oposed to being in the all blacks. Personally all the hater are just bitter as none of them are good enough to play rep rugby at all.

Playing in Japan for the $ VS The chance of winning the World Cup for the All Blacks?

If the desire isn't there for him to win we're better off without him tbh. Can't work out why he would go though, is winning the world cup not the goal of any player? And would his worth as a player not invrease if he eas part of a world cup winning team?