The three Otago greats are among a handful of former players putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to the Highlanders.
They have been joined by former Highlanders locks John Blaikie and Simon Maling, and former Otago loose forward Arran Pene, in buying ownership stakes in the Highlanders.
A group called DKIL Ltd has bought an 11% share of club ownership.
Ellis, the much-loved cheeky All Black-turned-television personality and businessman, is the leader of that group — which includes Timu, Randell, Blaikie, Maling and Whitestone Cheese supremo Simon Berry — and will take a seat on the Highlanders board.
Carisbrook Holdings has bought a 10% share. Its major shareholder is Dunedin-born businessman Chris Gallaher, who was a partner at Arthur Young accountants and is now chairman of Dunedin-based Pacific Edge, and Pene and Rabobank boss Todd Charteris have minor stakes.
Highlanders co-owners Peter Kean and Shane Drummond have reduced their stakes to 33% each, and the provincial unions (Otago, Southland and North Otago) hold a joint 13% stake.
Ellis joked he would have to watch more rugby now he was a part-owner of a Super Rugby team.
"Otago rugby has been such a big part of our lives," he told the Otago Daily Times from Auckland yesterday.
"If you get a chance to make that commitment, it is an absolute privilege.
"I haven’t watched as much rugby over the years as I should have, but I do know that the Otago culture and the region is very unique, and once we get people behind the team, they’ll be bloody unstoppable."
Ellis and his peers got to know Kean well when the Highlanders chairman was closely involved with Otago rugby through Lion Nathan.
"With someone like Keano as chairman, and their infrastructure and stuff, and the players, there is some real potential and some exciting times ahead for the Highlanders.
"We’d be mad not to jump on board."
Ellis, whose major business success was founding juice company Charlie’s, has already met his fellow board members over a video conference.
He wanted to get out of the "city of the damned" as often as possible and do whatever was needed at the Highlanders.
"I am seriously enthused about reconnecting with the community and with Highlanders rugby. As the late, great Gordie Hunter would say, ‘Don’t forget your roots, lad, and don’t be afraid to give back’."
Kean said the deal had been in the wings for a while, and he was excited about getting both the prominent rugby names and the businessmen involved.
They would add marketing, legal and commercial skills, useful contacts and passion to the ownership group.
"They’re all good Highlanders men, and they will add a lot," Kean said.
"This is a good sign to our fans and our community and our players and management. We’ve got good local people getting involved who are all well-connected."
None of the financial terms of the shares transactions have been disclosed.
