Shields welcomes Jones’ contact
England coach Eddie Jones has already contacted Brad Shields months before the Hurricanes’ has played his first game for Wasps.
Shields will join the English Premiership club at the end of this year’s Super Rugby series.
He told the Daily Mail that there had been ‘‘a little contact from Eddie [Jones] and that’s awesome because it’s good to know there’s a pretty real opportunity’’
‘‘If it doesn’t happen, it won’t be down to me not giving it a crack.’’
Shields, who has played 86 games for the Hurricanes and captained them against the British and Irish Lions last season, qualifies immediately to play for England because his parents were born there. They returned to live in Berkshire two and a half years ago.
He first looked at an England move a couple of years ago, but opted to stay with the Hurricanes and strive for an All Black jersey.
But the blindside flanker, who can also play No 8, has watched his Hurricanes teammate Vaea Fifita, Auckland’s Akira Ioane and Highlanders pair Liam Squire and Luke Whitelock move ahead of him in the pecking order.
Shields, who also captained Wellington to the Mitre 10 Cup championship title, told the Daily Mail the time was now right for his move to Wasps.
‘‘One of my big motivators is that, at 26, it could be my last chance to be involved at a World Cup. Last year things started to get real and I knew where I was positioned in New Zealand rugby. ‘‘I wanted to go up to that next level and it didn’t seem to be happening. The goal for me is to play international rugby and, coming over at short notice, I’ve got to go balls out to prove my worth.
‘‘As a kid in New Zealand, you watch the All Blacks and that’s where you want to be,’’ he said.
‘‘It was a hard decision because I was on the edges for a while and it’s tough to turn your back. I know I left no stone unturned, though, so it’ll probably be sadder saying goodbye to the Hurricanes.’’
Shields, 1.93m and 111kg, said the game against the Lions was ‘‘something I’ll never forget’’.
‘‘For most of us, it was the closest we’ve ever got to international rugby and it reignited a bit of the passion and love. It was a special night.’
The Daily Mail noted Shields usually spends Januarys diving for paua and surfing off the New Zealand coast, but the bearded backrower quipped: ‘‘I think I’ll leave my surfboard and diving gear at home [when I go to Wasps].’’