Shields requests NZ release
Hurricanes captain Brad Shields has asked for a release to play for England during the June test window, NZ Rugby boss Steve Tew says.
The revelation from Tew yesterday morning 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 threetest series between his side and South Africa in June.
World Rugby have indicated England have the upper hand in the tug of war over the 27-year-old 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 9 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 9 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 9 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.
‘‘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,’’ Tew said.
‘‘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.’’
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.
With England having back row injuries and coming off a disastrous Six Nations campaign where they finished fifth, it seems there is a desire to fast-track the Kiwi into their national squad.
England remain a key opponent of the All Blacks who are looking for a hat-trick of titles in Japan following their World Cup successes in 2011 and 2015.
Given the way NZR have released players early in the past, it would seem petty for them to stall Shield’s international career though it would be an ideal way to infuriate Eddie Jones.