England to win fight for Kiwi
ENGLAND are set to win their tug of war with New Zealand for Wasps-bound Brad Shields.
Eddie Jones will be permitted to pick the flanker for his touring party to South Africa if he chooses — despite the Kiwis digging in their heels.
Steve Tew, the chief executive of New Zealand Rugby (NZR), believes they have legal authority to block Shields from playing for England in June.
But that argument will fall on deaf ears if the case makes its way to World Rugby, the sport’s governing body.
Shields, 27, plays for the Hurricanes Super Rugby side from Wellington, but qualifies for England via both parents, who were born here before relocating to the southern hemisphere as children.
Shields — best at blindside flanker — will join Wasps in August and revealed his desire to be picked by England in
Sportsmail last January. But Tew said: ‘I don’t think you should jump to the conclusion that he will be available. He has signed to New Zealand and he is contracted to play for New Zealand teams until the end of Super Rugby. We have a New Zealand player who is contracted to be here until the end of that competition and that would be our expectation.’
Tew was citing ‘schedule three’ — a clause signed by all Super Rugby players whose international eligibility has not yet been decided — which states Shields can only play for New Zealandbased teams for the duration of his deal. Super Rugby continues until August 4.
But World Rugby have their own regulation — ‘regulation nine’ — which supersedes all other league clauses.
It states clubs must release players for national service when selected and no contract deals can block that.
There are two windows where clubs must release players, in November and June. England play South Africa on June 9, 16 and 23 and, if picked, Shields would have to play.
There is precedent. England took Piers Francis to Argentina last June when he was still at Auckland Blues. He played in both Tests, then returned to New Zealand before moving to Northampton Saints at the end of Super Rugby.