Shields requests contract release
Hurricanes captain Brad Shields has asked for a release to play for England during the June test window, New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew says.
The revelation from Tew yesterday is the latest chapter in a tricky situation that first surfaced when it was suggested England coach Eddie Jones may consider loose forward Shields, who will join English Premiership club Wasps after Super Rugby, to play in the three-test series between his side and South Africa in June.
World Rugby has indicated England have the upper hand in the tug o’ war over Shields, though it seems rugby’s governing body will be forced to make a ruling if New Zealand refuse to release him.
‘‘It is a work in progress. We have only just, I think this morning, got a formal request to consider releasing Brad,’’ Tew said.
‘‘He [Shields] is contracted to New Zealand to the end of Super Rugby. And so World Rugby regulations don’t apply per se. He has committed himself to New Zealand, but he, as a long-standing and loyal servant of the game, has put a request in.’’
It has been reported in England that World Rugby’s regulation nine governing player release in test windows such as June, when all the leading countries are in action, has primacy over all other arrangements in all territories around the globe.
But Tew suggested that may not be correct.
‘‘It is not as cut and dry as that. regulation nine doesn’t apply when someone has committed to a country as Brad has done. He has signed a contract that makes him available for New Zealand teams until the time of his contract ending.
‘‘The players that are subject to regulation nine are those that are down to being eligible for that country.
‘‘We will be releasing in the June window a large number of Samoan, Tongan and Fijian eligible players to go play for countries that they signed that contract that regulation nine applies to.’’
Tew would not say exactly who would be involved in the decision on whether to release Shields, or if he had discussed the situation with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. But he did say NZ Rugby was motivated to come to a swift conclusion.
The fact Shields, 27, has been a loyal servant to the Hurricanes and Wellington will be taken into account, Tew said.
‘‘We would treat any request from our employees on its merits, and will take in account all sorts of factors. There is no point not acknowledging that Brad has been a very very good servant of the game for a long period of time.
‘‘If he had been picked for the All Blacks we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I’m picking he would have committed to New Zealand for a lot longer.
But he hasn’t that cut and has now taken a different direction. He has asked for a dispensation and we will give it some serious consideration.’’
World Rugby has refused to officially comment, other than stating it will not get involved in regulation nine matters unless requested to do so by a union. According to World Rugby therefore, the ball is in England’s court, reported The Guardian.
England believe if they wish to select Shields they can do so, but if New Zealand resist clearance, World Rugby will be forced to step in and try and broker a peace deal.
If the governing body sides with New Zealand rather than enforcing its own regulation, it would set a dangerous precedent with regards to player release.
Shields could find himself the subject of a fascinating and influential test case.
The Schedule Three regulation, New Zealand’s lifeline here, has reportedly never before been challenged.
Shields, who qualifies for England through his parents, has persistently been overlooked by the All Blacks as he battled in positions of real strength in the New Zealand game at No 8 and blindside flanker.