Rugby-Thorn and Ellis to quit All Blacks tour early

WELLINGTON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Brad Thorn and Andy Ellis have been given permission to leave New Zealand's northern hemisphere rugby tour early and return home to their families.

The pair will remain with the All Blacks for Saturday's test against France in Marseille but will be allowed to miss next week's match against the Barbarians in London.

All Blacks manager Darren Shand said Ellis was returning because his wife was expecting their first baby, while Thorn was given the week off because he already has a large, young family.

"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," Shand said in a statement.

"Andy and Brad need to go home and we agreed before the tour that they would leave after the French test."

Replacement hooker Aled de Malmanche would remain with the team in Marseille and a decision on whether he would stay for the Barbarians match would be made after the French test.

(Reporting by Julian Linden in Sydney; Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com) ((julian.linden@thomsonreuters.com; +61409121090; Reuters Messaging: julian.linden.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net.; For Reuters sports blog Left Field go to: blogs.reuters.com/sport/))

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