Ex-England back-row Brad Shields is hopeful that he can finally realise his dream of playing for the All Blacks after returning home.
Following a turbulent year, which saw him without a club for a brief period of time after the demise of Wasps, the flanker has got his career back on track.
Shields signed a short-term deal with Perpignan in the Top 14 and then headed home to and rejoined the
The 32-year-old played for Wellington in the National Provincial Championship and will be part of the ‘Canes squad for the 2024 campaign.
He will hope to impress new All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson this season, which could finally get him a New Zealand call-up.
“There’s always a desire to play at the next level, whatever that might look like,” the back-row told
“To get the opportunity to play international rugby again would be an absolute dream come true.”
Shields was born and raised in New Zealand, featuring at age-grade level in 2011 and 2012, but qualified for through his parents.
After getting close but ultimately missing out on the All Blacks while at the Hurricanes, he headed for the Premiership and signed for Wasps in 2018.
Ex-Red Rose head coach Eddie Jones quickly included him in the squad, and he made his Test debut against South Africa.
However, Shields’ last appearance came in the 2019 Six Nations as he missed out on the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
With a recall not forthcoming, the experienced forward thought his international dreams were over, but he has an opportunity to stake his claim this year.
The change in World Rugby’s eligibility laws means that the flanker, who can also operate at number eight, is now available to All Blacks selectors should they deem his form good enough.
“I haven’t really put much thought into it,” Shields said. “I’ve tried hard to work on my mental game a little bit, and I’ve been trying to block out these last few months just to ease my way back into the environment with Wellington and the Hurricanes.
“My first goal was to play really well for Wellington.
Probably had a couple of average moments I reckon but the next step is to have a really good pre-season and put my best foot forward for the Hurricanes.
“All I can ask for myself is to play well and help the team, guide them, and hopefully point them in the right direction to play a Super Rugby final again.
“Whatever happens outside of that is out of my control from what I’ve learned over my career. I’ve just got to focus on what I can do in the moment and enjoy the moment as well.”
Shields also explained how the move back to the Hurricanes came about after he lost his job in England following Wasps’ administration.
“It was a pretty stressful year or so with Wasps going under and having to go to France for the end of that season,” he added.
“For us, my wife and kids, we thought ‘what’s familiar to us’ and I had a couple of conversations with Jason Holland when Wasps went under.
“I said, ‘Look, I’m really keen to get back,’ and we had some family personal things that we had to get back to New Zealand for. I just said: ‘Would you like to float the idea past of (me) coming back and being a Hurricane?’
“One conversation led to another, and it was as simple as that. I think it was in that moment before (Holland) knew about the All Blacks… it was a grey area where the club was going, but I’m extremely grateful.
“It was just really good timing. Sometimes, when it’s stressful in life, you look for familiar things, and this is familiar. It makes me excited.”
