Born in the town of Masterton, New Zealand, Shields attended Taita College in the suburb of Lower Hutt where he played first XV rugby and served as deputy head boy. After finishing high school, he began playing for Petone in Wellington's local club rugby competition while also captaining Wellington at under-20 level.[1]
Senior career
Shields made his provincial debut aged just 19 in 2010. Taking advantage of injuries to established players Rodney So'oialo and Serge Lilo, he played in a 52–23 victory away to North Harbour. That was to be his only appearance during the season. However, the following year he became much more of a regular, featuring 10 times and scoring his first 2 provincial tries as the Lions finished a disappointing 6th on the Premiership log.
After missing the entire 2012 ITM Cup due to injury, he returned fully charged in 2013 and played 11 of Wellington's 12 games in a season which saw them finish top of the Premiership log before being defeated 29–13 at home by Canterbury in the playoff final. 2014 would be a year of turmoil for the Lions as they came 7th and last in the Premiership, recording just 1 win in 10 games. Shields captained the side and was named as Wellington's Player of the Year for his efforts.
The Lions failed to gain promotion to the Premiership at the first time of asking, finishing 2nd, behind Hawke's Bay on the Championship log before being defeated by the same opposition in the playoff final, narrowly going down 26–25. Injury restricted Shields to just 6 matches in 2015 where he scored a try and picked up a yellow card.
2016 saw Wellington once again come to close to earning promotion but yet again falling just short. After another 2nd place log finish, this time behind Otago, they were upset at home by North Harbour, 40–37 in the playoff semi-finals. Shield played 9 of 11 games during the campaign.[1][4]
It was announced on 19 November 2017 that he would join Wasps in 2018.[5] Wasps entered administration on 17 October 2022 and Shields was made redundant along with all other players and coaching staff.[6]
With just a little over a season's experience of provincial rugby under his belt, Shields was signed to a Super Rugby contract with the Hurricanes ahead of the 2012 season.[8] Faced with stiff competition for a place in the starting line up from the likes of Jack Lam, Faifili Levave, Karl Lowe and Victor Vito, he acquitted himself well and went on to play 13 times during his debut season of Super Rugby, with 10 of these appearances coming from the replacements bench.
Shields enjoyed a breakout year in 2013, playing in all 16 of the Hurricanes games, including 13 starts and 3 tries before a knee injury hindered him in 2014, restricting him to only 6 matches.
The Hurricanes were one of Super Rugby's form teams through 2015 and 2016, finishing as runner-up in 2015 following a 21–14 home defeat to the Highlanders, before finally getting their hands on the trophy at the end of the 2016 season after a 20–3 victory over the Lions in the final. Shields featured heavily in both campaigns, playing 18 times in 2015 and 16 times in 2016 as well as contributing 2 tries in each season.[1][4]
On 27 June 2017, Shields captained the Hurricanes to a historic draw against the touring British and Irish Lions side. Shields was replaced by Reed Prinsep in the 56th minute, with the Hurricanes finishing the game at 31-31.
Shields was named as captain of the Hurricanes for the 2018 season despite his upcoming departure, with regular captain Dane Coles ruled out for the season with a torn ACL.
International
Shields was a New Zealand Under-17 representative in 2008 before being a member of the New Zealand Under-20 side which won the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship in Italy, scoring 1 try in 5 matches at the tournament.[9][10] He had been named in All Blacks training squads in 2012 and 2016, but did not go on to make his senior international debut.[1][11]
On 9 June 2018, he made his debut for England, coming on as a replacement in England's narrow defeat against South Africa at Ellis Park. He was then named as a starter for the second test against South Africa the following week.
Shields started once in the 2019 Six Nations Championship against Italy and featured twice more from the bench. Shields missed selection for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, having been ruled out of contention for the competition through injury. Uncapped player, Lewis Ludlam, was called in as a replacement for Shields during warmup fixtures. He has not featured in an international since.
Sio Julian Savea is a New Zealand professional rugby union player. He currently plays wing or centre for Wellington in the National Provincial Championship and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Savea formerly played for Toulon in the Top 14 and the Hurricanes in Super Rugby. Between 2012 and 2017, he won 54 caps for New Zealand.
Lima Zachariah Sopoaga is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Japan Rugby League One club Shimizu Blue Sharks. Born in New Zealand, he represents Samoa at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Norman Reginald Goodes is a former South African-born rugby union player who played as a prop for Wellington in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup from 2010 to 2016 and for the Hurricanes in the international Super Rugby competition from 2012 to 2016.
Jeffery Latu Toomaga-Allen is a rugby union footballer who previously played as a tighthead prop for Samoa, and for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship. He also previously played for Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup and the Hurricanes in Super Rugby. Toomaga-Allen has also played for New Zealand's international rugby team, the All Blacks, three times during his career. Toomaga-Allen is currently signed with the Queensland Reds until the end of 2025.
Shane Christie is a New Zealand rugby union player.
Matthew Phillip Proctor is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a utility back for the Western Force in Super Rugby. He has previously played for the Northampton Saints in the Premiership Rugby and for the Melbourne Rebels and Hurricanes in Super Rugby.
Tom Franklin is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Taranaki in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and the Western Force in Super Rugby.
Chris Eves is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a prop for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Sunwolves in the international Super Rugby competition.
Gareth Evans is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played as a loose forward for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition, and the Highlanders in Super Rugby.
Mark Abbott is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Saitama Wild Knights in the Japan Rugby League One competition. He previously played for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship.
Aki Seiuli is a New Zealand born rugby union player of Samoan heritage who currently plays as a prop for Dragons and the Samoan national side. He previously played for Glasgow Warriors; and the New Zealand sides Otago - in domestic Mitre 10 Cup - and the Highlanders - in the international Super Rugby competition.
Vince Aso is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a midfield back for Wellington in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Hurricanes in the international Super Rugby competition.
Vaea Tangitau Lapota Fifita is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Tonga national team.
James Anthony Richard Lentjes was a New Zealand rugby union player. His position was Flanker.
Leni Chris Anitoni Apisai is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a hooker for Auckland in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.
Kayne Hammington is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a halfback for Otago in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.
Sam McNicol is a New Zealand rugby union player who played as an outside back for Wellington and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Hurricanes and Chiefs in the international Super Rugby competition.
Michael Fatialofa is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Worcester Warriors in the Premiership.
Elias Jack Goodhue is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a centre for Castres Olympique in the French Top 14.
Peter Ionatana Jack Umaga-Jensen is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a center or outside back for Wellington in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Italy 
