Maori elder David Ellison has called on Argentina to exact revenge on England in their Rugby World Cup opener.
Ellison wants Argentina to make England pay
Maori elder David Ellison, a descendant of the man responsible for the All Blacks jersey, has called on Argentina to exact revenge on England in their Rugby World Cup opener.
England have caused controversy in New Zealand by having an all black strip for the tournament - with the squad set to wear it against the Pumas.
Ellison, whose great uncle Tom Ellison recommended the New Zealand Rugby Football Union adopt a black jersey with a silver fern in 1893, believes the kit is disrespectful to the tournament hosts.
And Ellison has declared that the Argentina ambassador, the Pumas team and all their supporters will be honorary members of the Maori community.
"I believe this would provide the Pumas with the kaha (strength) to match the black English jersey and allow those unhappy with Nike's choice of colour to be bonded to the Pumas, who, in turn, will have the added edge to exact utu (revenge) on our behalf," Ellison told the
Otago Daily Times.
"I don't think the English team realise how important the black jersey is to us. We are not blaming the team, we are blaming the suppliers who we believe chose that colour as a marketing ploy."
