Brad Shields: Hurricanes captain requests to be released to play for England
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Hurricanes captain Brad Shields looks set to tour South Africa with England in June after handing in a formal request to the New Zealand Rugby Union.
New Zealand-born Shields, who qualifies for England through his parents, will join Wasps later this year.
England head coach Eddie Jones sees the flanker as part of his plans going through to next year's World Cup.
But the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) says it will make the final decision on 27-year-old Shields' availability.
"We've only just this morning got a formal request to consider releasing Brad," NZRU boss Steve Tew told the NZ Herald.
"He's contracted to New Zealand until the end of Super Rugby [in August]."
Under World Rugby rules, England are entitled to select Shields for the three-Test series against South Africa from 9-23 June.
Regulation nine is designed to ensure any player is released for international duty, providing he or she is willing and eligible.
And the Rugby Football Union is prepared to sidestep its own policy of not picking players based overseas, given Shields has committed to an English club following the tour.
However, Tew believes this is a different case, and says the decision remains in the hands of the NZRU.
It is understood World Rugby would be prepared to get involved in any dispute that threatens the primacy of international rugby.
"The World Rugby regulations don't apply per se because he's committed himself to New Zealand," said Tew.
"But he is a long-standing and loyal servant of the game and has put a request in.
"We're looking at that and are considering the ramifications of releasing him to England in the middle of a competition he is committed to. We haven't made a final decision yet.
"We're not going to muck around. There's no point in taking weeks when he and England need a decision faster than that."
Injuries to England forwards Nathan Hughes and Courtney Lawes have hastened the need for reinforcements in the England back row, with Shields seen to fit the bill.
The 27-year-old helped Wellington Hurricanes to a Super Rugby title in 2016 and led the side to a draw against the British and Irish Lions last June.
He was part of the New Zealand Under-20s side that retained the Junior IRB World Championship title in 2011 but has never been capped by the All Blacks.
Shields is now in a similar situation to Piers Francis, who played for England against Argentina last summer despite still being under contract to the Blues in Auckland, and before his move to Northampton.
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"No one does Hypocrisy quite like the English."
No one does whinging quite like the Welsh.
The Welsh are pretty good at it though. Calling England a United Nations side when their own team is loaded with non-Welsh players.
Shields turned down AB selection because he had, informally, already committed himself to England. The NZRU were not happy.
If he is good enough to be in the ABs squad then he is good enough for England. I would expect to find him nailed on as the first choice No. 6 at the RWC.
As regards the youngsters they have to improve their game if they want to be in consideration.
However, EJ is paid to win and use every resource available to him and Shields has played with the best and is an elite level player.
Are we just going to glaze over the fact that his parents are English?
What are Bundee Aki’s, Hadleigh Parker’s and 10% of the Scottish teams tie to their chosen nation? Or are logical points and facts irrelevant to you?
I just want to know the boundaries to your argument. Cheers.
on
Just now
@158 Maybe NZR is sick and tired of England stealing our seasoned professional rugby players?
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Oh well, now you know how samoa and tonga feel about NZ
England are no worse than anybody else at doing this but they are basically saying they cant develop their own players and don't rate them which I do not believe at all - is weak and timid
Back your boys England and give them a chance (same goes to Scotland, Ireland and Wales)
2 minutes ago
The player pool in England is bigger than any other country
What message is that giving to English born and based players
With such a player base are no players good enough to fill No 6
If so what the hell is going on
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What message is it giving to others based in the UK?
Simple...
"Step up"
on
14 minutes ago
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Over-simplified nonsense. Eg. a boy is born in France to English parents who return to UK when he's 6 months old. He plays all his rugby in England until age 25, and then comes into international contention. But he has to play for France, even though he has no memory of living there, and doesn't speak French? Are you serious?
"born in England and your English, end of."
If you are born in England you should speak the language and know the difference between your and you're !
He's got (or getting) a valid call up to an international team in the international window.
End of story.
I would agree however that, having unearthed the likes of Mercer, Underhill and the Curry boys in the last 12 months, this seems a bit counter productive.
They did the same with Piers Francis but he has hardly pulled up any trees in a poor Northampton team.