«Breaking News» 'A chicken sandwich put me in hospital!'. reveals England forward Brad Shields

For Brad Shields, this was one of the more topsy-turvy summers — one week he was making his England debut, the next he was hooked up to a drip in hospital.

The flanker from Wellington in New Zealand was a controversial pick by Eddie Jones for the South Africa tour. 

Shields had not played a minute of rugby on these shores. And he only met the rest of the national squad days before replacing Nick Isiekwe after 35 minutes against the Springboks in Johannesburg for his first cap — angering some. 

Brad Shields has revealed how he suffered severe bout of food poisoning during England tour

He started the next week at No 6 in place of the dropped Chris Robshaw but then illness struck.

Speaking at his new club Wasps he described just how bad his food poisoning was in Cape Town.

‘I lost about seven or eight kilos (1st 3lbs) – mainly in fluid,’ he said.

‘Although I didn’t think I was too bad, they took me to hospital and put me on a drip once they realised how much I’d lost. It was the worst I have been sick in my life.

‘I had a chicken sandwich with my parents which looked pretty good to me – I made sure I checked it – but then it went from there.

‘Usually it lasts for a couple of days but this was about ten days by the time I got back to New Zealand, started putting some weight back on and started to feel normal again.

The Wasps flanker had to have five stitches above his right eye after an accidental knock

‘I’m still sort of bouncing back from that now I guess putting on all that weight but I’m feeling pretty good.’

Despite holding a British passport – as both his parents were born in England – Shields’ selection was slammed by New Zealand Rugby who suggested he had been nicked from under their noses, although they had consistently ignored him for All Blacks selection.

World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot also waded in, saying that rugby is ‘losing something’ with players switching allegiance.

But on his return to New Zealand to complete the Super Rugby season with the Hurricanes, Shields was met with respect.

‘The thing that stuck out for me was that the closest people around me were very supportive,’ he added.

The New Zealand born forward was a controversial pick by England head coach Eddie Jones

‘The majority of others were too, and in the end so were New Zealand rugby which was very helpful, as although they may have wanted it to go a different way this was how it happened.’

When asked if he would be boosting the Kiwi influence at Wasps, alongside Jimmy Gopperth, Lima Sopoaga and Ambrose Curtis, he had to remind the questioner of his new status.

‘I’m supposed to be English now!’ he laughed. ‘We will make sure we can bring what we can but will try not to step on anyone’s toes.

‘But you've got to earn people's respect rather than come in and be the guy who is chirping away you'll quickly get a cold shoulder.’

Having played with Beauden Barrett and a host of other All Blacks fans might hope Shields will come armed with ways to down the Kiwis ahead of England’s looming Test against the world champions.

Shields’ selection was slammed by New Zealand Rugby despite never receiving a call up

While he admits it might be strange to line up against his old team-mates in November he does not profess to having the inside track on them.

‘There might be a few subtleties I can help out with but at the end of the day what matters is how you play and trying not to get spooked by the shadow that’s cast by another team,’ he said.

Dai Young, his director of rugby at Wasps, has been impressed with Shields already.

The back-rower has only trained with his new team for two weeks – and already has had to have five stitches above his right eye after an accidental knock – but is turning heads.

‘Brad is a pretty serious guy, very serious about the things he does and wants to do them really well,’ said Young.

‘I met (former Hurricanes coach) Chris Boyd at the Premiership launch and he couldn’t speak highly enough of him.

Director of rugby at Wasps Dai Young has already been impressed with his new recruit

‘He said he was, if not the best then one of the best he’s ever coached. It’s a pretty high recommendation really when you think of who Chris has coached.’

Shields himself chose Wasps for top rugby and the proximity to his parents – Danielle and Nigel – an hour and a half away in Stanford Dingley.

He now lives in Leamington Spa with wife Louise and nine-month old daughter Charley.

‘Wasps have been a very strong club, are very competitive every year – there or there abouts in the semis or final, and European contenders, so that was first and foremost,’ he said.

‘The second part was living in an area where my wife was happy.

‘We heard Leamington Spa was a really nice place, it is very central in England so not far to London or the north. All of that was a big factor as well. We had to make sure the decision was good for both of us.

‘It is nice having my parents around to help out with my young daughter.' 

For now he cannot wait for his debut against Exeter Chiefs at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, where he is expected to start at blindside flanker.

‘I think the first couple of weeks, the first couple of games it's all about getting down, doing my work and making sure I understand everything before I try anything else,’ he said. ‘I don't want to step on anyone's toes too early. I'm just trying to build that respect and slowly build into the team.' 

Link article

https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/07/a-chicken-sandwich-put-me-in-hospital-reveals-england-forward-brad-shields/
Main photo article For Brad Shields, this was one of the more topsy-turvy summers — one week he was making his England debut, the next he was hooked up to a drip in hospital.
The flanker from Wellington in New Zealand was a controversial pick by Eddie Jones for the South Africa tour. 
Shields had not played a mi...

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Dianne Reeves Sport HienaLouca





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