BRAD SHIELDS SIGNS WITH WELLINGTON RUGBY FOR 2023
Wellington Rugby Football Union have today announced the signing of former England international, Brad Shields.
Shields will return to New Zealand to link up with Wellington in the 2023 Bunnings Warehouse NPC competition before joining former Super Rugby club, the Hurricanes, for the 2024 Super Rugby season.
“Being given the opportunity to wear the Lions jersey again is amazing. Wellington is a club and organisation that has given me so much, so it will be exciting to join the team on such a high after the success of last season with winning the Ranfurly Shield and the NPC title.
“It looks like a great set-up and good environment. It will be great to work with the players, learning and sharing my experience, but also working with Tamati and the coaching staff with some fresh new ideas.
“I’ve got some great memories with this club and hope to make some more and give back to the next generation of players coming through the same system I was lucky enough to go through.
“I want to try and inspire younger and older players to enjoy playing the game and make the most of chucking their boots on and running around with their mates,” said Shields.
Wellington Lions head coach, Tamati Ellison, said he was excited to have Shields’ link up with the Lions for the 2023 season.
“I’m looking forward to working with Shields. We know his qualities as a leader, so we know he will add to the leadership of this group, both on and off the field.
“Shields is excited to be coming back to Wellington with his whānau, and he is coming home for the right reasons, so we have an exciting season ahead of us,” said Ellison.
Shields debuted for Wellington against Hawke's Bay at Wellington in 2010 and played 60 matches for the side between 2010 and 2017.
He captained the side 32 times, including in his final match, the Mitre 10 Cup Final against Bay of Plenty at Wellington in 2017, which the Lions won, gaining the Lions promotion from the Championship back to the Premiership.
Shields debuted for the Hurricanes against the Stormers in Cape Town on 25 February 2012. Despite having just one season of provincial rugby experience under his belt, he went on to play 13 matches during his debut season.
In 2017, Shields captained the Hurricanes to a historic 31-31 draw against the touring British and Irish Lions side. Shields was named as captain of the Hurricanes for the 2018 season, with regular captain Dane Coles ruled out for the season with a torn ACL.
Shields departed Wellington in 2018, linking up with the London Wasps, and following that, French Top 14 side, USA Perpignan. He played nine times for the English national rugby union team in 2018 and 2019.