Rugby: Brad Shields may have to wait for England debut - Steve Tew

  • 19/04/2018

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew has warned England not to hold its breath for Brad Shield's release to play against the Springboks in June.

The Hurricanes captain and loose forward will join Wasps at the end of the Super Rugby season, and is eligible to play for the English national team through his parents.

Shields rejected a chance to join the All Blacks as a replacement on their northern hemisphere tour last year and The Guardian reports that England coach Eddie Jones now has the green light to select Shields, as injuries take a toll on his squad.

But Tew has hinted otherwise.

"We haven't had a request from the [Rugby Football Union] to release him, so it's news to us," he said.

'I don't think you'd jump to the conclusion that he would be available from our point of view. I think he's signed to New Zealand contracted to play for New Zealand teams until the end of Investec Super Rugby.

"We're obligated to release players who are signed to play for other countries and have made themselves unavailable for New Zealand.

"We always make sure that occurs and it's particularly relevant for the Pacific Island countries.

"But in this instance, Brad has signed a contract that makes him available for New Zealand teams."

Newshub.