July 12, 2025 • 16 mins
Brad Shields has had quite an eventful career.
He was an under-20 representative for New Zealand, has played 81 games for Wellington, 128 for the Hurricanes, and played for the English international team as well.
Shields joined Piney for a chat about his career, and offered his thoughts on the second test between the All Blacks and France.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Ed b a man who's been playing top level rugby
four I reckon a decade and a half maybe more
New Zealand under twenty representative eighty one games for Wellington
and signed on again for this season.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
One hundred and twenty eight games for the.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Hurricanes between twenty twelve and the season just completed, with
more to come. Three years at Wasps in England, eight
Test matches for England in twenty eighteen and twenty nineteen.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Brat Chields, Hello.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Mate, good afternoon. Thanks having me.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
It's good to have you pop in on Test match Shadday.
We had some Dane Coleson before. You might have heard
a bit of the chat. Was he a guy you
enjoyed going into battle with Dane Coleson?
Speaker 5 (00:45):
If there's one guy who you'd always won on the team,
SHOENICKX to you is probably him, And to be fair
like without blowing too much smoke up as bumb he's
probably one of the guys that I modeled, not just
you know, rugby bobously different positions, but life in general
and maybe my family and the way I do things
you know, we're very similar.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
He's probably a bit more hard nosed than I am.
But oh mate.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
To be to be in sort of the same team
as him, and and sort of looking up to somebody
in the same team a little bit older than he
was pretty cool. And he took me under his wing
along with Thrushy soy top, absolute top bloke.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
And I listened to him on the way in today
and he's just.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
So raw and and and doesn't doesn't hold back in
terms of how his emotions are and I think that's
credit to who he is and how he's being brought up.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
So the other one you mentioned, Jeremy Thrush, Yeah he was.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
He actually gave me my first pair of free Rugye
boots apart from for the New Zealand twenties, but he
gave my first pair of boots and with Essex and
I never looked back since the white peer so mate,
they were they were good for me. And coming out
of school into those environments is pretty daunting. But to
have a couple of guys who have been there and
sort of paving the way for us was pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
He didn't come out of one of the so called
you know, strong rugby schools the Auckland Grammar, Wellington College.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
And Pat Silver Streams of the world Times of College
for you.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Yeah, well, I mean I can't say we were the
played the best rugby at school, but we love what
we did and and I probably regret a little bit now,
but I went to school to eat my line and
play rugby and it managed to get into the system
when I was when I was quite young, So I
don't regret anything about going to Tider College.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
And I've got some lifelong.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
Mates that played rugby, and guys like maybe not know
the name, but Michael Kay and played for the Yellow
Moldi's Nigea Wong who played in Australia and played for
money some more. So you know, we've had some real
good success in our in our schooling and guys like
George Bower as well, who who's now sort of in
the in the All Blacks quite consistently. So yeah, we
punched above our weight and certainly enjoyed our rugby and
(02:36):
enjoyed our enjoyed our time there.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
You've just even talking about a decade and a half
and reeling off some of those stats, the games you've played,
the number of people you must have played with and against,
And I mean do you still sort of bump into
people and and sort of reconnect, you know, even years later.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
All the time, all the time, And I think, like
I was just saying before to one of the one
of the guys you came on the show later, like
I'm from Stokes Valley and I didn't realize we went
to primary school with them. But even going to South
of France and perpen Young, like playing against a couple
of guys from Wainui, you up, it's that one degree
of separation. You end up seeing the same guys or
playing with the same guys or playing against them throughout
your whole career, and even opportunity to play for the
(03:13):
Barbarians up in the UK and twenty sixteen, like some
of those guys you see you know once every couple
of years, but it's like yesterday you played with them.
So that's one of the bonuses that rugby gives you
a bit of a family outside of your family. So
it's pretty cool to be a part of and we're
very lucky to be in a sport that gives you
so much as well.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
You of course left New Zealand to chase your test
dream with England.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Can you about this background noises people getting a bit
excited about about Can you tell us about how you
came to that decision and how difficult it was to
make it?
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Yeah, to be honest, it was probably about a six
month decision that weighed on my shoulders for a long time.
And I guess every sort of kid in New Zealand
the spires to play for the All Blacks and something
that I definitely did and obviously got a little bit
of taste of the camp and playing super rugby against
some of the greats, and I didn't.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Take it very lightly. And I think where I got
to my career, I don't know.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Maybe I sort of reached my ceiling in New Zealand
and and I knew I had an opportunity to play
in England through my parents were born there and and
and you know, it was just a good chance and
an opportunity for me, and I'll be at the time,
I thought, you know, it was silly to turn it down,
and and and obviously I'd been playing super rugby for
eight years, so I was like, man, I might need
telling you here and just kind of refresh and exactly
(04:28):
what going into the UK gave me and and it
was such an amazing time and I.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Was like, I was very nervous and.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
I'm not sure how they were going to take it,
especially going to the England team from Super Rugby.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
It's quite unusual.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
But you know I went there with and and got
taken in with open arms and and and you know,
like rugby is a universal language and everyone's there trying
to do the same thing. So it was a real
positive for me and something that got an awesome opportunity to.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Go and play overseas and to see overseas as well.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Come out of one Enton and see the big wide world,
and especially a boy from Stokes Valley.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Not not many people get that opportunity.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
So yeah, it was a tough decision but something that
you know, I guess opened my to rugby in the world.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Who drove the culture in that England team that you
were part of in twenty eighteen nineteen and enabled you
to fit in so seamlessly.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Yeah, I look at everyone was really good and like
someone like Jamie George who who's still playing now for
England and and playing some bloody good rugby, is you
know that it guys Owen Pharaoh and George Ford, like
their standards were so.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
High in the way they wanted to train and play.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
Someone like Steve Borthwick, who's now coaching, is like some
of those training sessions are probably the hardest I've ever
been a part of. And to be under Eddie Jones
was a bit of a roller coaster rider. But I
mean I got on with them pretty well and it's
probably got the best out of best out of me
in terms of rugby when I went up there, so
absolute privilege to be a part of that group, and
they've had a lot of history as well, like that,
you know, almost like the birthplace of rugby where they were.
(05:55):
And to be a part of a team that was
so driven and maybe along the way kind of got
up in a roller coaster from terms of results, but
to go onto a team that just wanted to dominate
the world was pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
And what about the fans, Brad, did they acceipt you?
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Okay? I think so, I wouldn't lie.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
I turned off my social media for a little bit
because I think there was a bit of negative criticism
coming my way, but you know that's to be expected,
and and I guess my circumstance was so unusual, and
you've seen it with other guys like GEMSI Gives and
park and and Low for example, who play for Ireland,
and it's it's a little bit awkward, but at the
same time, like's I guess if you take it into
(06:32):
the real world, it's you know, a promotion in your job,
You're probably not going to turn it down if you
go into another business. So it was an opportunity to
me I couldn't turn down. And like I said before,
like gave me and my family an opportunity to travel
the world and give my kids a little bit of
an experience.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
And my daughter was six months old when we traveled
over there.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
My wife absolutely gave up everything to follow me, so
like I owe a lot of everything to what they
to them. And my son was born in England and
now he's got an English passport, so that's pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
I don't think there's many.
Speaker 5 (07:02):
Many sports or many walks of life where you get
these multiple opportunities, So I'm pretty lucky.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Absolutely. Well, let's let's circle back to where we are now.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
You're still going in a really brutal rugby position, the
loose forwards.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
I'm not a place for the fainthearted. What's the secret of.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Your longevity which has still got some more seasons to run?
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Yeah, he calls again, said before he's I don't miss
the contacts. And I remember when I first came back
and I started watching a soph one more playing and
putting some shots on. I wasn't able to play the
first game, and I was like, I don't know if
I want to play I want to play rugby anymore.
But I guess is it's the passion, It's it's the
love of the game that sort of keeps.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
You amongst it.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
And and that's something like if you're not enjoying what
you're doing, then that's pretty hard.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
And there's been some challenging times. But you know, I
guess trying to look.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
After your body and and stay motivated as probably one
of the hardest things.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
And it's not it's not the playing.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
The playing is probably although it's the hardest part, probably
the easiest part at the same time, because that's that's
your test match every week. That's you're what you're striving
toward as a training, putting your body through vigorous sort
of training methods and recovery eating.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Right all the time. You just switched on twenty four seven.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
So I guess it's just trying to have a nice
balance outside as well. And I probably haven't been the
best of having a balance, you know, without with rugby
outside and in my life. But you know, Rugby's given
me everything, and like I say, I've got the support
of my family and that's that's amazing.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
That's what they keep me going.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
And now to have kids sort of looking up to
me and trying to show them what's possible and try
and be a really good role model for them is
really important as well. So it's quite cool to csm
on their face when they say the dad run out.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I bet how much chance the way you recover after
games have to change.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
Oh, I think maybe it takes me another couple of
days now, But I think it's just moving with the times.
Like gone of the days where you sort of go
out on a Saturday night until six am in the
morning and rock up to the pool session.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
And you're willing to lines number ones.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
It's more or less maybe sit down and have a
couple of glass of red wine and chill out and
then do something active the next day. And I think
It's the one thing where rugby has grown is sort
of the tools that you're given to be the best player.
It's just unreal and you can see that where we
are at ndcis it's a pretty unique scenario in terms
where we train, and we're pretty lucky to have what
we do. And I guess that's a massive part of
(09:16):
longevity and rugby is how you look after your body
and how you're smart about things. And I've always thought,
you know, we're hard to work hard, to work harder,
but sometimes it's a little bit work smarter and look
after your body.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
I want to ask you about a couple of your teammates.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Duplessi Califi is the first one, a guy you know well,
part of the loose Ford cohort at the Hurricanes. Can
you tell us about what you've seen from him in
the last little while which has led to his elevation
to finally becoming all black.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
I just think he you know, I was so proud
of him to hear his name get called out, just
like everyone else. And they've seen seen his family how
passionate they were for him, and I know him as
an individual, he's absolutely static to be a part of
it and moy tank ay any minute for granted in
the environment and it's a really tough position to get into.
And I know that from experience that loose Ford trio
or wherever you play in the Loose Fords and New
(10:02):
Zealand rugby is always going to be good players in
that space. But here's a two a nation and work
ethic and to see where he's come over the last
sort of I left when he sort of came into
the Wellington team we won the championship. To go back
up to the premiership and to see his growth and
development into the leader I suppose that he is now.
I just think it just shows him as a person
(10:23):
in the way he's been brought up is you know,
he's not going to roll over it roll over that easy,
you know. And we're just really proud of him.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Another guy who had a bit of taste of the
All Blacks last year was Peter Lakai, another guy in
the Hurricanes and Wellington.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Shut up with you. I mean he's still young, right,
so you feel that or do you feel that he
has an All Blacks future as well?
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Oh, he's a freak of nature. And being back in
the Wellington environment this week. You can see him. He's
not taking a day off since we've finished Super Rugby
to get his knee right. So I think like for
someone young to have that sort of bounce back from
an injury is it's pretty tough. Like when you're at
the top of the world, you're playing international rugby, it's
easy for guys to sort of get complacent, and there's
(11:00):
not one little scratch of complacency going through him.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
And you can see him now.
Speaker 5 (11:04):
He's I think he's ahead of schedule with his his
knee recovery and he's training alongside and stuff or so
you know, we'll get him back, hopefully for Willington for
a couple of games and then sort of kick him
out of the door and hopefully he gets another call up
for the All Blacks. So yeah, I think like we
we're pretty blessed in Willings him with the amount of
talent that comes through our system. Holding on to them,
I think sometimes it's a bit of a challenge, But
(11:25):
at the same time, I think people love or guys
who come through the system love being part of Walling
To Rugby, love being part of the Hurricanes, and if
we can create a culture where they want to stay
no matter what. That's you know, half the battle and
what we want to see as many guys as possible.
And now you can see like who's being selected and
the All Blacks like it's proving to be, you know,
one of the powerhouse sort of clubs and franchises of
(11:47):
New Zealand rugby and the world rugby.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
What do you reckon Ruben Love's best positions?
Speaker 4 (11:52):
It's a great question.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
He played it absolutely amazing for us at ten when
he got his opportunity, and the thing with him is
just so full of energy and I guess it's just
needs to be directed in the right way. And I
mean at fifteen, you can break the game open from
no matter where we are.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
And for a young player to drive a team like
he did when he.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
Was at ten and have the communication skill and all
that sort of stuff, like he's got a lot of
growth and I think he knows that we all know that.
But his ceilingers are so high and we're really excited
to see this next sort of group of players we've
got about, you know, five to eight sort of players
who are like they can be, you know, absolute stalwarts
of the Hurricanes and the All Blacks, So it's really
(12:32):
cool to follow their journey and we're just looking forward
to see how much they can progress.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
And what about you, Bran, because I guess it's fair
to say you're closer to the end of your career
than the start of your career, but you're still going
Wellington in the n PC to come.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
You're back with the Hurricanes next year. Have you thought
about or have you about when you'll know if it's time?
Speaker 5 (12:51):
Whoever I speak to, they kind of like you know
they you know when it's time. And I've always said
to myself, like, the minute I stopped becoming passionate, the
minute I don't, I don't love the game as much,
and I'll put my boats up in and at the
moment I'm far from that, so I kind of I
won't say I want to be like Martin even play
till I'm forty five or forty three at the stage,
but I just want to, like, once it's finished, it's finished.
(13:14):
And and I love Willington, I love the Hurricane so much,
and and I love playing rugby in general because that's
sort of what I did, you know from day dot
when I was four years old.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
So to hold on to that and and and.
Speaker 5 (13:25):
The opportunity it gives you post rugby is pretty special.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
So I don't I don't feel like.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
The curtain is quite coming down, but I know that
it's just around the corner.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
And I just want to make the most.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
Of every opportunity that I get and every time I
get to go on the fields as sort of a bonus,
and I won't take that for granted.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Have you started exploring what might take up most of
your time post rugby.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Yeah, I think I think my wife is pretty keen
to get on with her life. Yeah, And like I said,
like my wife's been absolutely amazing, and she, like I said,
she gave up everything for me to follow me around
the world, So you know, give back to my family
and and sort of give them an opportunity that many
(14:04):
many people don't get the opportunity to give so and
hopefully part of that is me being in Wellington or
I'd love to stay involved in rugby in some sort
of way, maybe not coaching necessarily.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
But within their rugby environment.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
I can see so much growth in New Zealand rugby
in general and rugby around the world. So to be
a part of the next phase of professional the professional era,
which is unfortunately rugby struggling a little bit in New
Zealand if you look at the community game. So as
much as I can give back to the community game
when I finish would be you know, not just I'd
get a bit of a kick out of it, but
to see guys progress through and try and build on
(14:41):
what is there would be an amazing sort of journey
for me.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
And that transition period is yeah, I'm.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
Not really sure exactly what I'll do, but I've got
a fair idea and it's to do with people, it's
to do with rugby and growth. So hopefully there's an
opportunity that pops up for over the next sort of
two year, eighteen months or two years.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Fantastic when you both your kids are playing yep, so
and you are you coaching your daughter's team.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Yeah, well as much as I can.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
They play on a Friday night, so when we're away
it's a bit difficult. My wife thought was also managing,
so she's like manager coach. We've got a couple of
helpers out there, which is which is awesome, and yeah,
like I say, like for them to come and watch
me and then and then kind of help them out
from you know, I've been in that situation before as
a kid, so and and I think the kids actually
quite get a kick out of having a Hurricane, you know,
(15:27):
be a part of their group and and being out
in Eastbourne as such a close knit community.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
So yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
My son said the other day is like, I think
Daddy's going to coach my team next year, and I'm yeah,
So I've been signed up for a few years. I
think after a while during and when I finished playing.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Well, it's a great way to spend time with your kids.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Vouch for that. Great great to see your mate. Your
enthusiasm is infextious. I know that Super Rugby title, the
second one is not too far away. Maybe on the thirtieth.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Anniversary of Super Rugby, Hurricanes could win another one.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Maybe that will be epic.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
And and unfortunately we have quite well fell short a
few years in a row, and even when I before
I left, like semi final, semi final, quarter final, semi finals.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
So we're just.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
About there, and I think we've got the group to
do it next year. I think most of the guys
it's going to be pretty unchanged. So I'm looking forward
to it, and I'm looking forward to try and help
the team as much as I can on and off
the field, and we've got a pretty good group, so hopefully,
fingers crossed I can get a title in before I
need to either bugger off somewhere else or roll up
my sleeves and go for another season.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Love it, Brad, Thanks for stopping and made always great
catching up.
Speaker 5 (16:28):
Yeah, thank you, mate, And I just want to say
before I go, like Piney, you've blow a lot of
smoke up other people's bums, but what you do for
not just he's going to Rugby New Zealand Sport as
amazing mate and keep fighting the good fight.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
So we appreciate what you do for us. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
You're very good man, Brad. Thank you very much for
the kind words. Brad shields with us here on News
Talks HEEDB. Coming to Your Life Today from Shit twenty two.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talks EDB weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on ihard Radio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Ed b a man who's been playing top level rugby
four I reckon a decade and a half maybe more
New Zealand under twenty representative eighty one games for Wellington
and signed on again for this season.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
One hundred and twenty eight games for the.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Hurricanes between twenty twelve and the season just completed, with
more to come. Three years at Wasps in England, eight
Test matches for England in twenty eighteen and twenty nineteen.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Brat Chields, Hello.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Mate, good afternoon. Thanks having me.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
It's good to have you pop in on Test match Shadday.
We had some Dane Coleson before. You might have heard
a bit of the chat. Was he a guy you
enjoyed going into battle with Dane Coleson?
Speaker 5 (00:45):
If there's one guy who you'd always won on the team,
SHOENICKX to you is probably him, And to be fair
like without blowing too much smoke up as bumb he's
probably one of the guys that I modeled, not just
you know, rugby bobously different positions, but life in general
and maybe my family and the way I do things
you know, we're very similar.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
He's probably a bit more hard nosed than I am.
But oh mate.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
To be to be in sort of the same team
as him, and and sort of looking up to somebody
in the same team a little bit older than he
was pretty cool. And he took me under his wing
along with Thrushy soy top, absolute top bloke.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
And I listened to him on the way in today
and he's just.
Speaker 5 (01:18):
So raw and and and doesn't doesn't hold back in
terms of how his emotions are and I think that's
credit to who he is and how he's being brought up.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
So the other one you mentioned, Jeremy Thrush, Yeah he was.
Speaker 5 (01:29):
He actually gave me my first pair of free Rugye
boots apart from for the New Zealand twenties, but he
gave my first pair of boots and with Essex and
I never looked back since the white peer so mate,
they were they were good for me. And coming out
of school into those environments is pretty daunting. But to
have a couple of guys who have been there and
sort of paving the way for us was pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
He didn't come out of one of the so called
you know, strong rugby schools the Auckland Grammar, Wellington College.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
And Pat Silver Streams of the world Times of College
for you.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Yeah, well, I mean I can't say we were the
played the best rugby at school, but we love what
we did and and I probably regret a little bit now,
but I went to school to eat my line and
play rugby and it managed to get into the system
when I was when I was quite young, So I
don't regret anything about going to Tider College.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
And I've got some lifelong.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
Mates that played rugby, and guys like maybe not know
the name, but Michael Kay and played for the Yellow
Moldi's Nigea Wong who played in Australia and played for
money some more. So you know, we've had some real
good success in our in our schooling and guys like
George Bower as well, who who's now sort of in
the in the All Blacks quite consistently. So yeah, we
punched above our weight and certainly enjoyed our rugby and
(02:36):
enjoyed our enjoyed our time there.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
You've just even talking about a decade and a half
and reeling off some of those stats, the games you've played,
the number of people you must have played with and against,
And I mean do you still sort of bump into
people and and sort of reconnect, you know, even years later.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
All the time, all the time, And I think, like
I was just saying before to one of the one
of the guys you came on the show later, like
I'm from Stokes Valley and I didn't realize we went
to primary school with them. But even going to South
of France and perpen Young, like playing against a couple
of guys from Wainui, you up, it's that one degree
of separation. You end up seeing the same guys or
playing with the same guys or playing against them throughout
your whole career, and even opportunity to play for the
(03:13):
Barbarians up in the UK and twenty sixteen, like some
of those guys you see you know once every couple
of years, but it's like yesterday you played with them.
So that's one of the bonuses that rugby gives you
a bit of a family outside of your family. So
it's pretty cool to be a part of and we're
very lucky to be in a sport that gives you
so much as well.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
You of course left New Zealand to chase your test
dream with England.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Can you about this background noises people getting a bit
excited about about Can you tell us about how you
came to that decision and how difficult it was to
make it?
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Yeah, to be honest, it was probably about a six
month decision that weighed on my shoulders for a long time.
And I guess every sort of kid in New Zealand
the spires to play for the All Blacks and something
that I definitely did and obviously got a little bit
of taste of the camp and playing super rugby against
some of the greats, and I didn't.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Take it very lightly. And I think where I got
to my career, I don't know.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
Maybe I sort of reached my ceiling in New Zealand
and and I knew I had an opportunity to play
in England through my parents were born there and and
and you know, it was just a good chance and
an opportunity for me, and I'll be at the time,
I thought, you know, it was silly to turn it down,
and and and obviously I'd been playing super rugby for
eight years, so I was like, man, I might need
telling you here and just kind of refresh and exactly
(04:28):
what going into the UK gave me and and it
was such an amazing time and I.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Was like, I was very nervous and.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
I'm not sure how they were going to take it,
especially going to the England team from Super Rugby.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
It's quite unusual.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
But you know I went there with and and got
taken in with open arms and and and you know,
like rugby is a universal language and everyone's there trying
to do the same thing. So it was a real
positive for me and something that got an awesome opportunity to.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Go and play overseas and to see overseas as well.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Come out of one Enton and see the big wide world,
and especially a boy from Stokes Valley.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Not not many people get that opportunity.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
So yeah, it was a tough decision but something that
you know, I guess opened my to rugby in the world.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Who drove the culture in that England team that you
were part of in twenty eighteen nineteen and enabled you
to fit in so seamlessly.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Yeah, I look at everyone was really good and like
someone like Jamie George who who's still playing now for
England and and playing some bloody good rugby, is you
know that it guys Owen Pharaoh and George Ford, like
their standards were so.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
High in the way they wanted to train and play.
Speaker 5 (05:30):
Someone like Steve Borthwick, who's now coaching, is like some
of those training sessions are probably the hardest I've ever
been a part of. And to be under Eddie Jones
was a bit of a roller coaster rider. But I
mean I got on with them pretty well and it's
probably got the best out of best out of me
in terms of rugby when I went up there, so
absolute privilege to be a part of that group, and
they've had a lot of history as well, like that,
you know, almost like the birthplace of rugby where they were.
(05:55):
And to be a part of a team that was
so driven and maybe along the way kind of got
up in a roller coaster from terms of results, but
to go onto a team that just wanted to dominate
the world was pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
And what about the fans, Brad, did they acceipt you?
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Okay? I think so, I wouldn't lie.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
I turned off my social media for a little bit
because I think there was a bit of negative criticism
coming my way, but you know that's to be expected,
and and I guess my circumstance was so unusual, and
you've seen it with other guys like GEMSI Gives and
park and and Low for example, who play for Ireland,
and it's it's a little bit awkward, but at the
same time, like's I guess if you take it into
(06:32):
the real world, it's you know, a promotion in your job,
You're probably not going to turn it down if you
go into another business. So it was an opportunity to
me I couldn't turn down. And like I said before,
like gave me and my family an opportunity to travel
the world and give my kids a little bit of
an experience.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
And my daughter was six months old when we traveled
over there.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
My wife absolutely gave up everything to follow me, so
like I owe a lot of everything to what they
to them. And my son was born in England and
now he's got an English passport, so that's pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
I don't think there's many.
Speaker 5 (07:02):
Many sports or many walks of life where you get
these multiple opportunities, So I'm pretty lucky.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Absolutely. Well, let's let's circle back to where we are now.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
You're still going in a really brutal rugby position, the
loose forwards.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
I'm not a place for the fainthearted. What's the secret of.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Your longevity which has still got some more seasons to run?
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Yeah, he calls again, said before he's I don't miss
the contacts. And I remember when I first came back
and I started watching a soph one more playing and
putting some shots on. I wasn't able to play the
first game, and I was like, I don't know if
I want to play I want to play rugby anymore.
But I guess is it's the passion, It's it's the
love of the game that sort of keeps.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
You amongst it.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
And and that's something like if you're not enjoying what
you're doing, then that's pretty hard.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
And there's been some challenging times. But you know, I
guess trying to look.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
After your body and and stay motivated as probably one
of the hardest things.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
And it's not it's not the playing.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
The playing is probably although it's the hardest part, probably
the easiest part at the same time, because that's that's
your test match every week. That's you're what you're striving
toward as a training, putting your body through vigorous sort
of training methods and recovery eating.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Right all the time. You just switched on twenty four seven.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
So I guess it's just trying to have a nice
balance outside as well. And I probably haven't been the
best of having a balance, you know, without with rugby
outside and in my life. But you know, Rugby's given
me everything, and like I say, I've got the support
of my family and that's that's amazing.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
That's what they keep me going.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
And now to have kids sort of looking up to
me and trying to show them what's possible and try
and be a really good role model for them is
really important as well. So it's quite cool to csm
on their face when they say the dad run out.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I bet how much chance the way you recover after
games have to change.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
Oh, I think maybe it takes me another couple of
days now, But I think it's just moving with the times.
Like gone of the days where you sort of go
out on a Saturday night until six am in the
morning and rock up to the pool session.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
And you're willing to lines number ones.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
It's more or less maybe sit down and have a
couple of glass of red wine and chill out and
then do something active the next day. And I think
It's the one thing where rugby has grown is sort
of the tools that you're given to be the best player.
It's just unreal and you can see that where we
are at ndcis it's a pretty unique scenario in terms
where we train, and we're pretty lucky to have what
we do. And I guess that's a massive part of
(09:16):
longevity and rugby is how you look after your body
and how you're smart about things. And I've always thought,
you know, we're hard to work hard, to work harder,
but sometimes it's a little bit work smarter and look
after your body.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
I want to ask you about a couple of your teammates.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Duplessi Califi is the first one, a guy you know well,
part of the loose Ford cohort at the Hurricanes. Can
you tell us about what you've seen from him in
the last little while which has led to his elevation
to finally becoming all black.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
I just think he you know, I was so proud
of him to hear his name get called out, just
like everyone else. And they've seen seen his family how
passionate they were for him, and I know him as
an individual, he's absolutely static to be a part of
it and moy tank ay any minute for granted in
the environment and it's a really tough position to get into.
And I know that from experience that loose Ford trio
or wherever you play in the Loose Fords and New
(10:02):
Zealand rugby is always going to be good players in
that space. But here's a two a nation and work
ethic and to see where he's come over the last
sort of I left when he sort of came into
the Wellington team we won the championship. To go back
up to the premiership and to see his growth and
development into the leader I suppose that he is now.
I just think it just shows him as a person
(10:23):
in the way he's been brought up is you know,
he's not going to roll over it roll over that easy,
you know. And we're just really proud of him.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Another guy who had a bit of taste of the
All Blacks last year was Peter Lakai, another guy in
the Hurricanes and Wellington.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Shut up with you. I mean he's still young, right,
so you feel that or do you feel that he
has an All Blacks future as well?
Speaker 5 (10:40):
Oh, he's a freak of nature. And being back in
the Wellington environment this week. You can see him. He's
not taking a day off since we've finished Super Rugby
to get his knee right. So I think like for
someone young to have that sort of bounce back from
an injury is it's pretty tough. Like when you're at
the top of the world, you're playing international rugby, it's
easy for guys to sort of get complacent, and there's
(11:00):
not one little scratch of complacency going through him.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
And you can see him now.
Speaker 5 (11:04):
He's I think he's ahead of schedule with his his
knee recovery and he's training alongside and stuff or so
you know, we'll get him back, hopefully for Willington for
a couple of games and then sort of kick him
out of the door and hopefully he gets another call up
for the All Blacks. So yeah, I think like we
we're pretty blessed in Willings him with the amount of
talent that comes through our system. Holding on to them,
I think sometimes it's a bit of a challenge, But
(11:25):
at the same time, I think people love or guys
who come through the system love being part of Walling
To Rugby, love being part of the Hurricanes, and if
we can create a culture where they want to stay
no matter what. That's you know, half the battle and
what we want to see as many guys as possible.
And now you can see like who's being selected and
the All Blacks like it's proving to be, you know,
one of the powerhouse sort of clubs and franchises of
(11:47):
New Zealand rugby and the world rugby.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
What do you reckon Ruben Love's best positions?
Speaker 4 (11:52):
It's a great question.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
He played it absolutely amazing for us at ten when
he got his opportunity, and the thing with him is
just so full of energy and I guess it's just
needs to be directed in the right way. And I
mean at fifteen, you can break the game open from
no matter where we are.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
And for a young player to drive a team like
he did when he.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
Was at ten and have the communication skill and all
that sort of stuff, like he's got a lot of
growth and I think he knows that we all know that.
But his ceilingers are so high and we're really excited
to see this next sort of group of players we've
got about, you know, five to eight sort of players
who are like they can be, you know, absolute stalwarts
of the Hurricanes and the All Blacks, So it's really
(12:32):
cool to follow their journey and we're just looking forward
to see how much they can progress.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
And what about you, Bran, because I guess it's fair
to say you're closer to the end of your career
than the start of your career, but you're still going
Wellington in the n PC to come.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
You're back with the Hurricanes next year. Have you thought
about or have you about when you'll know if it's time?
Speaker 5 (12:51):
Whoever I speak to, they kind of like you know
they you know when it's time. And I've always said
to myself, like, the minute I stopped becoming passionate, the
minute I don't, I don't love the game as much,
and I'll put my boats up in and at the
moment I'm far from that, so I kind of I
won't say I want to be like Martin even play
till I'm forty five or forty three at the stage,
but I just want to, like, once it's finished, it's finished.
(13:14):
And and I love Willington, I love the Hurricane so much,
and and I love playing rugby in general because that's
sort of what I did, you know from day dot
when I was four years old.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
So to hold on to that and and and.
Speaker 5 (13:25):
The opportunity it gives you post rugby is pretty special.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
So I don't I don't feel like.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
The curtain is quite coming down, but I know that
it's just around the corner.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
And I just want to make the most.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
Of every opportunity that I get and every time I
get to go on the fields as sort of a bonus,
and I won't take that for granted.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Have you started exploring what might take up most of
your time post rugby.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Yeah, I think I think my wife is pretty keen
to get on with her life. Yeah, And like I said,
like my wife's been absolutely amazing, and she, like I said,
she gave up everything for me to follow me around
the world, So you know, give back to my family
and and sort of give them an opportunity that many
(14:04):
many people don't get the opportunity to give so and
hopefully part of that is me being in Wellington or
I'd love to stay involved in rugby in some sort
of way, maybe not coaching necessarily.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
But within their rugby environment.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
I can see so much growth in New Zealand rugby
in general and rugby around the world. So to be
a part of the next phase of professional the professional era,
which is unfortunately rugby struggling a little bit in New
Zealand if you look at the community game. So as
much as I can give back to the community game
when I finish would be you know, not just I'd
get a bit of a kick out of it, but
to see guys progress through and try and build on
(14:41):
what is there would be an amazing sort of journey
for me.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
And that transition period is yeah, I'm.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
Not really sure exactly what I'll do, but I've got
a fair idea and it's to do with people, it's
to do with rugby and growth. So hopefully there's an
opportunity that pops up for over the next sort of
two year, eighteen months or two years.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Fantastic when you both your kids are playing yep, so
and you are you coaching your daughter's team.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Yeah, well as much as I can.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
They play on a Friday night, so when we're away
it's a bit difficult. My wife thought was also managing,
so she's like manager coach. We've got a couple of
helpers out there, which is which is awesome, and yeah,
like I say, like for them to come and watch
me and then and then kind of help them out
from you know, I've been in that situation before as
a kid, so and and I think the kids actually
quite get a kick out of having a Hurricane, you know,
(15:27):
be a part of their group and and being out
in Eastbourne as such a close knit community.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
So yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:33):
My son said the other day is like, I think
Daddy's going to coach my team next year, and I'm yeah,
So I've been signed up for a few years. I
think after a while during and when I finished playing.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Well, it's a great way to spend time with your kids.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Vouch for that. Great great to see your mate. Your
enthusiasm is infextious. I know that Super Rugby title, the
second one is not too far away. Maybe on the thirtieth.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Anniversary of Super Rugby, Hurricanes could win another one.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Maybe that will be epic.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
And and unfortunately we have quite well fell short a
few years in a row, and even when I before
I left, like semi final, semi final, quarter final, semi finals.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
So we're just.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
About there, and I think we've got the group to
do it next year. I think most of the guys
it's going to be pretty unchanged. So I'm looking forward
to it, and I'm looking forward to try and help
the team as much as I can on and off
the field, and we've got a pretty good group, so hopefully,
fingers crossed I can get a title in before I
need to either bugger off somewhere else or roll up
my sleeves and go for another season.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Love it, Brad, Thanks for stopping and made always great
catching up.
Speaker 5 (16:28):
Yeah, thank you, mate, And I just want to say
before I go, like Piney, you've blow a lot of
smoke up other people's bums, but what you do for
not just he's going to Rugby New Zealand Sport as
amazing mate and keep fighting the good fight.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
So we appreciate what you do for us. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
You're very good man, Brad. Thank you very much for
the kind words. Brad shields with us here on News
Talks HEEDB. Coming to Your Life Today from Shit twenty two.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talks EDB weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on ihard Radio.
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