England ‘have law on their side’ in bid to pick Shields for tour party
Regulations said to put country ahead of club New Zealand warn ‘don’t jump to conclusions’
England can press ahead in selecting Wellington Hurricanes flanker Brad Shields for their tour of South Africa in June without fear of losing any legal challenge to New Zealand, after World Rugby sources indicated that regulations governing player release for international duty trump all other considerations.
The New Zealand union raised the stakes in a tug-of-war over the highly-regarded Hurricanes captain by stating that a clause in the 27-year-old’s franchise contract prevents him from representing other countries.
Shields, who is eligible for England through his parents, could still be playing Super Rugby in August. Steve Tew, NZRFU’S chief executive, had upped the ante when inferring that the fine detail of such contracts had never been put properly to the test.
“I don’t think you should jump to the conclusion that he [Shields] will be available [for England] from our point of view,” Tew told the New Zealand Herald. “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. Brad has signed a contract that makes him available for New Zealand teams.”
However, World Rugby’s regulation governing player release in Test windows such as June, when all the leading countries are in action, has primacy over all other arrangements around the globe.
“That regulation is relevant in this case,’ said a source.
The onus will be on the NZRFU to initiate any legal proceedings were Shields to be called into the England squad due to be announced on May 10 for the threetest tour of South Africa.
Head coach Eddie Jones can choose who he wants. There is precedent for England picking a New Zealand-based player – Piers Francis, of Auckland Blues, was capped on the tour to Argentina in 2017 before his arrival to play for Northampton. Francis, though, had not qualified through residency at that juncture for New Zealand.
Jones had initial conversations with Shields prior to the signing, which along with his England switch was revealed exclusively by The Daily Telegraph, being announced in November.
England are expected to take an under-strength squad to South Africa, with players being rested following the exertions of last summer’s Lions tour to New Zealand. Jones will be without backrow forwards Nathan Hughes and Courtney Lawes because of injury, with Bath centre Jonathan Joseph added to the casualty list yesterday when his club confirmed that he requires surgery on the ankle he damaged last weekend.