Brad Shields cleared to become English

[Lizard]

Apparently Eddie Jones will be allowed to pick Brad Shields for England while he is still signed for the Hurricanes.

I’m not sure Brad Shields has even been to England before.

[Digby]

The new Waldrom

[Lizard]

Did Waldrom play NZ U20s? Captain his team against the B&I Lions?

[Digby]

No idea, but he did play for England whilst not being English. Much more serious than jamboree games

[canta_brian]

I expect Shields is just looking to join that long and illustrious list of Kiwis who have moved to the northern hemisphere and become vastly better rugby players as a result.

[twitchy]

Discussed at length in the eps thread. Why is this suddenly become news today? I've seen it every where.

[Raggs]

Apparently Eddie Jones will be allowed to pick Brad Shields for England while he is still signed for the Hurricanes.

I’m not sure Brad Shields has even been to England before.

Well his parents are English and currently live in England so I'd be surprised if he'd never been there.

Francis was taken to arg in the same circumstances.

I hope Eddie takes him, if he's to be an option then he should be in the environment asap. Or like others he can attend one camp/tour and never be heard of again.

[Raggs]

Just so I can have the same conversation in 3 places . NZ have said feck off, he's contracted to us. Ignoring that reg 9 doesn't allow for contracts to exclude release. He's qualified and it's a global window. If I was head coach, I'd pick him regardless now.

[Lizard]

Discussed at length in the eps thread. Why is this suddenly become news today? I've seen it every where.

Is it? sorry. I think it’s news because the RFU has just said he can be picked for June.

But BREAKING NEWS! NZRU says no! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/ar ... d=12035813


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[Raggs]

Discussed at length in the eps thread. Why is this suddenly become news today? I've seen it every where.

Is it? sorry. I think it’s news because the RFU has just said he can be picked for June.

But BREAKING NEWS! NZRU says no! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/ar ... d=12035813


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It's not breaking, I broke it. NZRU can get fecked, they can't refuse his release. Eddie should pick him now just to make it clear that they aren't above World Rugby regulations.

[Digby]

Discussed at length in the eps thread. Why is this suddenly become news today? I've seen it every where.

Is it? sorry. I think it’s news because the RFU has just said he can be picked for June.

But BREAKING NEWS! NZRU says no! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/ar ... d=12035813


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It's not breaking, I broke it. NZRU can get fecked, they can't refuse his release. Eddie should pick him now just to make it clear that they aren't above World Rugby regulations.

That's just weird from NZRU, they've got no actual basis for blocking it, they must know that so why even bother?

[Which Tyler]

Just so I can have the same conversation in 3 places . NZ have said feck off, he's contracted to us. Ignoring that reg 9 doesn't allow for contracts to exclude release. He's qualified and it's a global window. If I was head coach, I'd pick him regardless now.

Agreed - Hell, I'd be tempted to select him, and have him as non-playing reserve for every match, just to annoy them

[Digby]

I'd be tempted to pick an English player, but that's just me

[Which Tyler]

I'd be tempted to pick an English player, but that's just me

Well, I'd be leaving our first choice players at home regardless, personally; so pick Englishmen to actually play, and a kiwi to piss off the NZRU.
though with 2 English parents, I've no particular problem calling Shields English.

[Digby]

I'd be tempted to pick an English player, but that's just me

Well, I'd be leaving our first choice players at home regardless, personally; so pick Englishmen to actually play, and a kiwi to piss off the NZRU.
though with 2 English parents, I've no particular problem calling Shields English.

I might feel differently about Shields if he turns out to be a class act, if he's just a boon to Eddie doubling down on the idea we can't play rugby then it'll simply piss me off more, and that I care about, whereas I don't care about the NZRU enough to want to piss them off.

[Digby]

Also this shouldn't be the summer of rest for England players, that should have been last summer

[Danno]

I'd be tempted to pick an English player, but that's just me

Well, I'd be leaving our first choice players at home regardless, personally; so pick Englishmen to actually play, and a kiwi to piss off the NZRU.
though with 2 English parents, I've no particular problem calling Shields English.

Minimum nine English parents or no dice.

[fivepointer]

I seldom watch Super Rugby so have seen very little of him. Is he international class?

With 2 English parents he would certainly fulfil my eligibility criteria, so i've no problems with him getting a place on the SA tour.

[Lizard]

He was in the discussion for the All Blacks squad. Not a shoo-in but would do a job. A top professional rather than x-factor super-gifted.

Oh, and if I’m duplicating, Mods should feel free to merge. I don’t follow every EMB Fred.

[Mellsblue]

I don’t follow every EMB Fred.

Not even the ones with Diggers’ minute by minute breakdowns (I’m assuming we can use breakdown in both senses of the word)? You don’t know what you’re missing. Unless, that is, you’ve ever watched paint dry, in which case you do.

[Digby]

I'll be in the garden singing 'we shall overcome' if anyone needs me

[Lizard]

I don’t follow every EMB Fred.

Not even the ones with Diggers’ minute by minute breakdowns (I’m assuming we can use breakdown in both senses of the word)? You don’t know what you’re missing. Unless, that is, you’ve ever watched paint dry, in which case you do.

I saw one of those. How much spare time does that guy have?


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[Mellsblue]

I don’t follow every EMB Fred.

Not even the ones with Diggers’ minute by minute breakdowns (I’m assuming we can use breakdown in both senses of the word)? You don’t know what you’re missing. Unless, that is, you’ve ever watched paint dry, in which case you do.

I saw one of those. How much spare time does that guy have?


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He enjoys gardening. Need I say more?

[Lizard]

Send him over. I’ve got foot high saplings growing in my roof guttering.


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[Mikey Brown]

What happened to Brendan O’Connor. Is he good/English yet?