Rugby's famed Ella family has welcomed a milestone moment for Australia's indigenous community with a record three players of Aboriginal descent to start for the Wallabies in Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup showdown with the All Blacks in Christchurch.

Fullback Kurtley Beale, centre Anthony Faingaa and his twin brother, hooker Saia Faingaa, have been named in the run-on side for the clash at AMI Stadium.

A fourth Indigenous player, flanker Matt Hodgson, has been named on the bench.

While the three Ella brothers - twins Mark and Glen, and their younger sibling Gary - all played at international level, along with good friend and former schoolmate Lloyd Walker, only two of the quartet ever played together in the same Test.

"This is a first," said Gary Ella.

"It's a great achievement for the individuals involved and it's a great achievement for Aboriginal people who will be watching this Test with great interest.

"To have three players with Indigenous heritage in the starting team, four in the squad, and an Aboriginal in Jim Williams on the coaching staff, it's big news.

"I know the Ella family is very excited, and so is Lloyd McDermott, the first Aboriginal Test player who has also been a driving force behind the development of young Aboriginal rugby players.

"You hear about what AFL and rugby league are doing in terms of promoting Indigenous talent, but this is evidence that rugby union is also on the right track and providing opportunities." Anthony Faingaa, starting a Test for the first time against the All Blacks, said he was proud to be involved in what Gary Ella described as a "milestone moment" for the Indigenous community.

"Saia and I are proud of our Aboriginal bloodline on mum's side of the family," he said as the great Mark Ella watched from the stands as the Wallabies trained on Friday.

"We're also humbled to know the Ella brothers have taken time out to wish us the best for this Test, which means so much not only to us but our family." The Bledisloe Cup Test tomorrow falls on the same day the annual National Indigenous under-16 championships, to be played over three days, kick off in Redfern, Sydney.

Six teams from across Australia will contest two days of round-robin competition at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence at Redfern before moving to Forshaw Rugby Park in Sylvania Waters on Monday for the finals.

The championships are part of the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team Inc program dedicated to increasing the participation of indigenous youth in rugby.

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