Hurricanes

Bio

Wellington Lions and New Zealand U20s loose forward Brad Shields will join the Hurricanes for his first season following a successful IRB World Junior Championship campaign in Italy and a super impressive 2011 ITM Cup season upon his return.

Fresh from helping New Zealand retain the U20 world title, where he started the final against England at blindside flanker, Shields linked up with Wellington for his second season with the Lions and had strong campaign. Playing mostly at No. 8, Shields provided muscle and power and a consistently high work rate. His two-try effort in a crucial come-from-behind 30-25 victory over Southland went a long way to ensuring Wellington’s survival in the Premiership for 2012.

Previously in 2010, injuries to Rodney So’oialo and Serge Lilo and All Blacks commitments to Victor Vito opened the door for Shields to make his Lions debut. It was in the No. 6 jersey where he made his starting debut for the Lions in a big win over North Harbour. He started the 2010 representative season as captain of the Wellington U20s and was the dominant player on the field in the Junior Lions’ 53-22 win over Taranaki U20 before being called into the senior Lions team and making his ITM debut off the bench against Hawke’s Bay.

Shields, a former New Zealand U17 representative, attended unheralded Taita College in the Hutt Valley and plays his senior rugby for the famous Petone club.

Stats

Provincial Teams

Wellington

Provincial Points

10 (2t)

Provincial Caps

17

Provincial Debut

2010 v Hawke's Bay

Rugby facts

Earliest Rugby Memory

Playing in Waiouru with bare feet in the frost

Position When Younger

Prop, lock, First five, 6, 8.

Most Admired Rugby Player

Richie McCaw

Biggest Rugby Influence

Mum & Dad

Most Memorable Rugby Moment

Winning U20 World Cup - 2011

Worst Rugby Room Mate

Reggie Goodes