Shaw call send to long test career

Bradley Shaw.
Bradley Shaw.
Veteran Black Sticks defender Bradley Shaw has announced his retirement from international hockey following a career spanning more than a decade.

The 33-year-old Cantabrian made his debut at the 2004 Champions Trophy in Pakistan and over the following 12 years played 192 tests for New Zealand.

Shaw’s final tournament for the Black Sticks was at the recent Rio Olympic Games. His focus is now on spending more time at home with his wife and two children.

"For me its been a long career and one I have enjoyed immensely, but its time to move on to the next phase of life," he said.

"Im still keen to be involved in hockey, so will still be out on the turf for my club as well as be available for Canterbury in the national league next year if selected."

There are plenty of highlights for Shaw, including representing New Zealand at three Olympic Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016) and two Commonwealth Games (Melbourne 2006, Glasgow 2014).

One moment which will stick in everyone’s mind is when he scored the winning goal against Argentina in the final of the 2008 Olympic qualifying tournament at North Harbour.

"That Olympic qualifying tournament was a huge highlight for me, but more for what we achieved as a team rather than me scoring the winning goal. We were suddenly thrust into the Olympic frame and realised we could do something special."

Head coach Colin Batch said Shaw was a quality defender who was renowned for his defensive intensity whenever he got out on to the turf.

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