Adrian Shelford
Encyclopedia
Adrian Tremain Shelford (1964 – 19 September 2003), born in New Zealand
, was a rugby league
player who represented his country. Shelford played for Wigan
and Wakefield Trinity
in the Rugby League Premiership
as well as the Newcastle Knights
and Manly Sea Eagles in the NSWRL Premiership as a prop.
before moving to Wellington to advance his career. He was named the Canterbury Rugby League
Player of the Year in 1984. He made the Junior Kiwis
in 1982 and 1983.
In Wellington, Shelford joined the Upper Hutt Tigers.
claiming to have secured his signature. Shelford eventually joined Wigan after it was ruled by the High Court that he had not entered into a binding commitment to play for Saints. He appeared in 21 matches for Wigan and was part of the Challenge Cup
winning side that beat Halifax
32-12 before 94,273 spectators at Wembley Stadium
.
After a short stint with the Newcastle Knights
during the 1988 season, he was back at Wigan. He played in 40 games during the 1988/89 season, the most number of matches by any player at the club. Shelford featured in the Challenge Cup Final win over St. Helens by 27-0 in front of a crowd of 78,000 spectators. He was also part of Wigan’s 12-6 John Player Special Trophy win over Widnes
at Bolton. And he scored a try in the cherry and white’s 22-17 victory against Salford in the Lancashire Cup
final at Knowsley Road
.
Shelford played 22 matches for the Wigan club in the 1989/90 season, and was back again at Wembley Stadium to help Wigan to a win over Warrington
. "He was someone that would do the hard yards and lay the platform for the backs,” said former team-mate Kevin Iro
. Shelford had a stint with Manly in the Australian competition in 1990, appearing in 11 matches, with most of those coming off the bench.
Shelford headed over to Wakefield Trinity
in 1990/91, playing 28 games. He was involved in eight games in 1991/92 with the Belle Vue outfit before finishing the season with four games for the Sheffield Eagles
.
the following year while playing for Christchurch club Hornby. In 1984, his first full senior year, he made his debut for South Island
. He played 11 provincial games for Canterbury before being chosen to tour Great Britain and France with the New Zealand Kiwis in 1985. He was involved in 11 games on that tour but did not feature in any of the Test matches.
He moved to Wellington club Upper Hutt in 1986 and went on to represent the district in 10 provincial matches between 1986 and 1987. He represented the New Zealand Māori
in the 1986 Pacific Cup
.
He made his Test debut in 1987 against Papua New Guinea at Goroka and Port Moresby before taking on the Australians in 1987 in which the Kiwis scored a famous 13-6 win over the world champions at Lang Park.
“We were confident of beating the Aussies. We have a side that I believe is the best in the world, which is good for the game in New Zealand,” Shelford said at the time.
He played just four games, including one Test, on the 1989 tour of Great Britain before being injured. Overall, he appeared in eight Test matches as well as representing the Rest of the World in 1988 against Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium.
On 19 September 2003 Shelford died of a heart attack in England
, aged 39.
His cousin Wayne Shelford
played rugby union
for the All Blacks
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, was a rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player who represented his country. Shelford played for Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
and Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
in the Rugby League Premiership
Rugby League Premiership
The Rugby League Premiership was a competition for British rugby league clubs that operated between 1973 and 1995. As the Super League Premiership the competition continued to operate until 1997....
as well as the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
and Manly Sea Eagles in the NSWRL Premiership as a prop.
Early years
Shelford played for Hornby and CanterburyCanterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
before moving to Wellington to advance his career. He was named the Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
Player of the Year in 1984. He made the Junior Kiwis
Junior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
in 1982 and 1983.
In Wellington, Shelford joined the Upper Hutt Tigers.
Professional career
Shelford moved to England in 1987 with both St Helens RLFC and WiganWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
claiming to have secured his signature. Shelford eventually joined Wigan after it was ruled by the High Court that he had not entered into a binding commitment to play for Saints. He appeared in 21 matches for Wigan and was part of the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
winning side that beat Halifax
Halifax RLFC
Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...
32-12 before 94,273 spectators at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
.
After a short stint with the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
during the 1988 season, he was back at Wigan. He played in 40 games during the 1988/89 season, the most number of matches by any player at the club. Shelford featured in the Challenge Cup Final win over St. Helens by 27-0 in front of a crowd of 78,000 spectators. He was also part of Wigan’s 12-6 John Player Special Trophy win over Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
at Bolton. And he scored a try in the cherry and white’s 22-17 victory against Salford in the Lancashire Cup
Rugby league county cups
Historically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
final at Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road
Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves...
.
Shelford played 22 matches for the Wigan club in the 1989/90 season, and was back again at Wembley Stadium to help Wigan to a win over Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
. "He was someone that would do the hard yards and lay the platform for the backs,” said former team-mate Kevin Iro
Kevin Iro
Kevin Leslie Iro is a former professional rugby league international footballer who has representated both New Zealand and the Cook Islands. In his domestic career, his achievements include playing in the Challenge Cup final for Leeds, Wigan and St. Helens.Iro is the younger brother of New Zealand...
. Shelford had a stint with Manly in the Australian competition in 1990, appearing in 11 matches, with most of those coming off the bench.
Shelford headed over to Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...
in 1990/91, playing 28 games. He was involved in eight games in 1991/92 with the Belle Vue outfit before finishing the season with four games for the Sheffield Eagles
Sheffield Eagles
Sheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....
.
Representative career
Shelford represented the New Zealand Under 17’s in 1981 and was a Junior KiwiJunior Kiwis
The Junior Kiwis side represents New Zealand in the sport of rugby league. They are commonly known as the Junior Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are not necessarily an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby league team. They are...
the following year while playing for Christchurch club Hornby. In 1984, his first full senior year, he made his debut for South Island
South Island rugby league team
The South Island rugby league team represents the Southern Zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. The Zone represented the Southland, Otago, West Coast, Canterbury and Tasman districts. They are nicknamed the Scorpions...
. He played 11 provincial games for Canterbury before being chosen to tour Great Britain and France with the New Zealand Kiwis in 1985. He was involved in 11 games on that tour but did not feature in any of the Test matches.
He moved to Wellington club Upper Hutt in 1986 and went on to represent the district in 10 provincial matches between 1986 and 1987. He represented the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
in the 1986 Pacific Cup
1986 Pacific Cup
-Pool B:-Play offs:-Final:...
.
He made his Test debut in 1987 against Papua New Guinea at Goroka and Port Moresby before taking on the Australians in 1987 in which the Kiwis scored a famous 13-6 win over the world champions at Lang Park.
“We were confident of beating the Aussies. We have a side that I believe is the best in the world, which is good for the game in New Zealand,” Shelford said at the time.
He played just four games, including one Test, on the 1989 tour of Great Britain before being injured. Overall, he appeared in eight Test matches as well as representing the Rest of the World in 1988 against Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Personal life
Shelford planned for life after Rugby League by graduating with honours from Edge Hill University. He was teaching at a local high school and had just gained promotion when he died.On 19 September 2003 Shelford died of a heart attack in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, aged 39.
His cousin Wayne Shelford
Wayne Shelford
Wayne Thomas "Buck" Shelford is a New Zealand former rugby union footballer and coach who represented and captained New Zealand in the late 1980s...
played rugby union
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...
for the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
.