BRAD SHIELDS SAYS pledging his allegiance to England has put him in a โtricky situationโ but the Hurricanes captain is determined to โgain 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.
Advertisement
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.
โI guess itโs a pretty tricky situation,โ said Shields. โI think itโs how you play on the footy field thatโs going to matter the most and you earn respect by playing well in the jersey.
โIโve 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.
โAs a footy player you want to aim for the highest you can possibly get to. For me it wasnโt quite clicking in New Zealand, but there was another opportunity.
โIโm pretty happy with my decision and canโt wait to get stuck in.โ
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
18 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Kiwi-born Shields ready to 'earn respect' after pledging allegiance to England
BRAD SHIELDS SAYS pledging his allegiance to England has put him in a โtricky situationโ but the Hurricanes captain is determined to โgain 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.
โI guess itโs a pretty tricky situation,โ said Shields. โI think itโs how you play on the footy field thatโs going to matter the most and you earn respect by playing well in the jersey.
โIโve 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.
โAs a footy player you want to aim for the highest you can possibly get to. For me it wasnโt quite clicking in New Zealand, but there was another opportunity.
โIโm pretty happy with my decision and canโt wait to get stuck in.โ
โIt was so smart of Leo, so strategic, to bring someone like Stuart inโ
โYou want to be able to stand over something from your time, and that drives you onโ
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
England Hurricanes Internationals Rugby Union Super Rugby Test The story of a Hurricane