Hurricanes player Brad Shields.
Photo: Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
Experienced loose forward Brad Shields has extended his stay with the Hurricanes for another year.
The one-year contract extension means Shields will return to the Hurricanes for an 11th season in his second stint with the club, a decade-and-a-half after his debut in 2012.
The 34-year-old is the fourth-most capped Hurricanes player with 133 appearances.
“I love where the club is at, both on and off the field, with the players and management – we are building something very special,” Shields said in a statement.
“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.”
Hurricanes player Brad Shields.
Photo: Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
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.
Shields headed to Europe in 2018 to play his club rugby and also represented England eight times.
He returned to New Zealand in 2023, rejoining Wellington in the NPC before beginning his second spell with the Hurricanes the following year.
“He’s club first, team second, individual third, and that really rubs off on everybody,” said coach Clark Laidlaw. “He helps the players and coaches have high standards, and he gives us great feedback through the weeks around how we’re going.”
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