RUGBY UNION: WASPS have confirmed back-row Brad Shields will join the club during the 2018/19 season.
The 26-year-old has made 86 appearances for Super Rugby side Hurricanes since joining them in 2012, and recently skippered the team against the British and Irish Lions.
Shields has also represented Wellington 57 times, having made his provincial debut as a 19-year-old, and was named the Wellington Lions’ Player of the Season in 2016.
Captaining the side last season, he played a key role in the Lions winning promotion back to the Premiership, after defeating Bay of Plenty in a dramatic Championship Final last month.
He was also part of the New Zealand U20s side that retained the Junior IRB World Championship title in 2011 and was named in the 2012 All Blacks training squad.
Last year, Shields represented the Barbarians in the 31-31 draw against the Springboks at Wembley.
Dai Young, director of rugby at Wasps, said: “We are really pleased that Brad wants to spend the next stage of his career at Wasps, after completing the next Super Rugby season with the Hurricanes.
“We are looking forward to seeing the impact he can make for Wasps as he takes on the new challenge of the Aviva Premiership and European Rugby Champions Cup.”
Shields added: “I’m really excited for the new opportunity to join Wasps.
“The club competes well across all the competitions and it’s going to be the perfect place for my young family to settle.”
