Paul Shields (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Paul Shields is a former Irish professional rugby union
player who at club level represented Ulster Rugby
and Northampton Saints
. He won two caps for the Ireland national team
in 2003.
being the 9th member to join the 100 cap club. He has won the Celtic League
and Celtic Cup. In his first year Paul was nominated as the Ulster player of the year
in the 2007-08 season. Gaining praise over his pace as a hooker, he was placed on a rotational system with Dylan Hartley
. In September 2009 Shields retired from professional rugby after suffering a neck injury in the March of that year.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player who at club level represented Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
and Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
. He won two caps for the Ireland national team
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
in 2003.
Ulster Rugby
Paul Shields attained 104 caps for Ulster RugbyUlster Rugby
Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
being the 9th member to join the 100 cap club. He has won the Celtic League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
and Celtic Cup. In his first year Paul was nominated as the Ulster player of the year
Northampton Saints
Shields signed for the Northampton SaintsNorthampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
in the 2007-08 season. Gaining praise over his pace as a hooker, he was placed on a rotational system with Dylan Hartley
Dylan Hartley
Dylan Hartley is an English, New Zealand born rugby union footballer who plays at hooker for Northampton Saints, and England.-Early career:Hartley was born in New Zealand, but qualifies to play for England through his English mother...
. In September 2009 Shields retired from professional rugby after suffering a neck injury in the March of that year.