Wales coy on interest in All Black Shannon Frizell

The Welsh Rugby Union remains coy on their interest in All Black and ex-Toshiba loose forward Shannon Frizell who will re-qualify for Wales next month, after declining to comment on the subject to RugbyJP.com.

The 33-Test flanker will re-qualify for his home nation of Tonga - who he represented in age group rugby and football before moving to New Zealand in 20215 - and Wales, who he qualifies for through his Swansea-born stepfather Andrew, from 28 October.

© JRLO

That date will mark three years since he last played for the All Blacks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final and he will - albeit unintentionally - meet World Rugby’s three-year stand down period which would enable him to play for Tonga or Wales.

Frizell, 32, returned to New Zealand in June after spending three seasons with Japan Rugby League One outfit Toshiba Brave Lupus alongside Richie Mo’unga during which time both players were unavailable for All Blacks selection.

The 6ft 4in, 18-stone powerhouse helped Toshiba to back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025 but has endured an injury-hit 2026 season, making only two appearances for Toshiba whose ‘three-peat’ bid ended in a quarter-final loss to eventual runners-up Kubota Spears.

Frizell, who scored 21 tries in 37 games in Japan, re-signed with New Zealand Rugby and ex-Japan head coach Jamie Joseph's Highlanders in April for the 2027 season to stake a claim for a spot in ex-Kobe Steelers head coach Dave Rennie’s World Cup squad next year.

He is yet to play since leaving Japan having suffered a further injury setback in pre-season training with provincial side Tasman who are currently fifth in the NPC standings and are currently on course for a quarter-final play-off spot in October.

Frizell’s last game was against Kubota in March as he left the field after 51 minutes after sustaining a fresh hand injury.

He will remain ineligible for selection for the All Blacks until he makes an NPC appearance unless Rennie asks the NZR board for a special exemption.

Ex-Toshiba teammate Mo’unga, a two-time MVP winner in Japan, made two NPC appearances for Canterbury in August and was promptly added to Rennie’s Greatest Rivalry Tour squad.

Former Tonga u20s goalkeeper Frizell holds a British passport like his stepbrother Tyson who has represented Wales, Australia and Tonga in rugby league.

Frizell scoring one of his four tries against Rennie's Kobe team in December 2023 © JRLO

The Tongatapu-born standout burst onto the Test rugby stage in 2018 with a sensational performance in New Zealand's 46-24 victory over Argentina in the Rugby Championship which saw him lauded by New Zealand media as the second coming of All Blacks great Jerome Kaino.

Frizell helped New Zealand to a comprehensive 40-17 win over a patched up Wales in the 2019 Rugby World Cup bronze medal match in Tokyo.

He was understood to be on the radar of the Newport-based Dragons in 2017, a year before he made his All Blacks bow.

His possible suitors Wales were condemned to their third Six Nations wooden spoon in as many years in March despite finishing their campaign with a comfortable 31-17 home win against Italy.

Steve Tandy’s side followed up with wins against the Barbarians and Fiji in Cardiff before being humbled on the road by Argentina 35–21 and were routed 43-0 by South Africa in Durban.

Wales’ well-stocked back-row resources is one of Tandy’s few assets with James Botham, Kane James, Alex Mann, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Olly Cracknell and Aaron Wainwright providing a wealth of options.

It remains to be seen if Tandy and his team will table an offer for two-time League One winner and former Highlanders Player of The Year Frizell who will likely be approached from Tonga who tried to entice Mo’unga to make the same switch last year – as revealed by RugbyJP.com.

The WRU – who are expected to make a final decision about the fate of its four pro clubs on March 2027 -  declined to comment when asked about their interest in Frizell switching allegiances.

Frizell remains locked out of the All Blacks setup but injuries could prompt Rennie to appeal for a medical exemption for him to return to the fold for the Bledisloe Cup games in October. However, that scenario is unlikely until he proves his fitness in the NPC.

After five months on the sidelines, and three years away from Test rugby, a November return for Northern Hemisphere stage of the inaugural Nations Championship could suit Frizell and the new All Blacks coaching regime.

New Zealand will face Scotland, Wales and England ahead of the Nations Championship Finals weekend which will be held at Allianz Stadium Twickenham from 27-29 November.