Former England international commits to Hurricanes for another season

Hurricanes veteran and former England international loose forward Brad Shields has penned a new contract extension which will keep him in the capital for another season.

The 34-year-old will play for the Hurricanes until the end of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season with a one-year commitment signed.

Since debuting in 2012 for the club, Shields has amassed 133 caps over two stints with the Hurricanes, including winning the franchise’s maiden Super Rugby title in 2016 over the Lions.

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The loose forward made the decision to move to the UK after the 2018 season, joining Wasps and becoming capped by the England side. He played eight times for England over 2018-19.

Returning to New Zealand, he re-joined the Hurricanes in 2024 where he has resumed captaincy duties.

“It’s great news for us. Having Brad’s ability and experience, as well as his leadership, at the club for another year is invaluable,” Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said.

“Since he’s come back, he’s been a core part of our leadership group. He’s a selfless, team-first athlete who always wants the best for the team and never the individual.

“He’s club first, team second, individual third, and that really rubs off on everybody. He helps the players and coaches have high standards, and he gives us great feedback through the weeks around how we’re going.

“We’re really excited and really proud of him. He’s everything you want in a Hurricane. Good players want to be coached, great players can’t be coached enough, and he’s in that bracket for me.

“He’s always striving to do more, to try and be better, even at this stage of his career, so to have him here with Lou and the two kids, Charley and Franco, is amazing.”

The Hurricanes are thrilled to confirm that Brad Shields has signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season.

The deal means Shields will return to the Hurricanes for an 11th season in what is his second stint with the club, a decade-and-a-half after his debut in 2012.

Since then, the 34-year-old has become the fourth-most capped Hurricanes player with 133 appearances, standing as a key leader and prominent figure within the club.

“I’m super excited to be staying with the Canes for another year, and extremely grateful to the club for the opportunity,” Shields said.

“I love where the club is at, both on and off the field, with the players and management – we are building something very special.

“I’m also excited about what’s happening off the field and the alignment across the entire club, as well as the positive direction we’re heading in to grow our game within the community and be frontrunners in innovation within Super Rugby.

“It’s awesome to be supported by such an amazing organisation. This is home for me and my beautiful family, and without the support of them, I couldn’t do what I do.”

The seasoned loose forward provides immense experience heading into next season.

A Super Rugby champion with the Hurricanes in 2016, Shields also featured in the club’s 2017 draw against the British & Irish Lions and became a Hurricanes centurion in 2018.

He then departed for Europe, where he played for English club Wasps and French side Perpignan between 2018 and 2023. During that time, he made eight appearances for England.

Shields returned to New Zealand in 2023, re-joining Wellington in the NPC before beginning his second spell with the Hurricanes the following year.

He was named Hurricanes captain for the 2018 and 2024 campaigns, was a co-captain last season, and has retained a core leadership role as part of the club’s Ng? Kaitiaki.

At provincial level, Shields has played 84 times for Wellington, with whom he won the 2024 NPC title, and is a 2011 World U20 Championship title-winner with New Zealand.

He has also represented the North Island, New Zealand Barbarians, and UK Barbarians at various stages throughout his career.

“It’s great news for us. Having Brad’s ability and experience, as well as his leadership, at the club for another year is invaluable,” Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said.

“Since he’s come back, he’s been a core part of our leadership group. He’s a selfless, team-first athlete who always wants the best for the team and never the individual.

“He’s club first, team second, individual third, and that really rubs off on everybody. He helps the players and coaches have high standards, and he gives us great feedback through the weeks around how we’re going.

“We’re really excited and really proud of him. He’s everything you want in a Hurricane. Good players want to be coached, great players can’t be coached enough, and he’s in that bracket for me.

“He’s always striving to do more, to try and be better, even at this stage of his career, so to have him here with Lou and the two kids, Charley and Franco, is amazing.”