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Hurricanes captain Brad Shields.

Kiwi-born Shields ready to 'earn respect' after pledging allegiance to England

Eddie Jones this week named Brad Shields in his squad for the Test series against South Africa next month.

BRAD SHIELDS SAYS pledging his allegiance to England has put him in a โ€œtricky situationโ€ but the Hurricanes captain is determined to โ€œgain some respectโ€ by letting his rugby do the talking.

Eddie Jones this week named the New Zealand-born flanker in his squad for the Test series against South Africa next month.

New Zealand Rugby agreed to release Shields from his contract in order to achieve his ambition of playing at international level.

The 27-year-old back-row, who will join Wasps ahead of the 2018-19 Premiership season, is relishing the opportunity to show what he is capable of on the Test stage.

โ€œI guess itโ€™s a pretty tricky situation,โ€ said Shields. โ€œI think itโ€™s how you play on the footy field thatโ€™s going to matter the most and you earn respect by playing well in the jersey.

โ€œIโ€™ve just got to put my hand up and my head down and go to work like I try to do every week for the Hurricanes, and hopefully I gain some respect that way.

โ€œAs a footy player you want to aim for the highest you can possibly get to. For me it wasnโ€™t quite clicking in New Zealand, but there was another opportunity.

โ€œIโ€™m pretty happy with my decision and canโ€™t wait to get stuck in.โ€

โ€˜It was so smart of Leo, so strategic, to bring someone like Stuart inโ€™

โ€˜You want to be able to stand over something from your time, and that drives you onโ€™

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