All Blacks Brad Thorn and Andy Ellis will return home to New Zealand after the test against France in Marseille this weekend.
Ellis was heading home because his wife was expecting their first baby, while Thorn also has a large, young family which he was looking forward to seeing.
“Family life is obviously very important to the All Blacks players and management and we try and get players home when they need to be with their families. Andy and Brad need to go home and we agreed before the tour that they would leave after the French test,” All Blacks manager Darren Shand said.
Replacement hooker Aled de Malmanche is staying with the team in Marseille this week and a decision on whether he will stay with the squad for the Barbarians match in London next week will be made following the French test.
Shand said the Barbarians match was an important fixture for the All Blacks squad: “Once we have played France, the players will be really looking forward to this match, which is one of rugby’s great traditions, and the squad will be keen to end the All Blacks Telecom Northern Tour on a high.”
3 News