World Cup boost for Shields

BRAD SHIELDS is on course to go to the World Cup with England after scans revealed he only suffered minor damage to ligaments in his left foot.

Wasps’ 28-year-old New Zealand-born flanker flew home on Thursday from England’s ‘heat camp’ in Treviso, north east Italy, after suffering an injury which appeared to cast doubt on his World Cup hopes.

However, having been sent for urgent assessment back in the UK, Shields has had positive news. Sportsmail understands that the former captain of Wellington-based Super Rugby side, the Hurricanes, is expected to be out for two or three weeks.

He is expected to have a spell of intensive rehabilitation back at his club, under the supervision of England medical staff, with a view to regaining full fitness by mid-August.

Coach Eddie Jones will name his World Cup squad on August 12 and Shields — a blindside who can also operate at lock or No 8 — had been pencilled in as one of the 31 chosen men.

He is unlikely to have recovered from his injury in time to face Wales in England’s first warm-up match, at Twickenham on August 11, but he is still destined to make the cut.