# Shannon Frizell

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New Zealand rugby union player

Rugby player

Shannon Frizell Full name Shannon Michael Frizell Born (1994-02-11) 11 February 1994 (age 32) Folaha, Tonga Height 195 cm (6 ft 5 in)[1] Weight 108 kg (238 lb; 17 st 0 lb)[1] School 'Apifo'ou College Notable relative Tyson Frizell (brother) Rugby union career Position(s) Flanker, Lock, Number 8 Current team Tasman, Highlanders Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016–2023, 2026– Tasman 35 (55) 2018–2023, 2027– Highlanders 68 (95) 2023–2026 Toshiba Brave Lupus 37 (105) Correct as of 7 April 2026 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2014 Tonga U20 4 (5) 2018–2023 New Zealand 33 (40) 2020 South Island 1 (0) 2025 ANZAC XV 1 (0) Correct as of 7 April 2026 Medal record Men's Rugby union Representing New Zealand Rugby World Cup 2019 Japan Squad 2023 France Squad

**Shannon Michael Frizell** (born 11 February 1994) is a Tongan born[2] New Zealand [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) player.[3][4] His position is [flanker](/source/Rugby_union_positions).[5]

## Early life

Frizell was born and raised in Folaha, [Tonga](/source/Tonga) and started his childhood playing football for Folaha Football Club. His adoptive brother, [Tyson Frizell](/source/Tyson_Frizell), plays in the [National Rugby League](/source/National_Rugby_League).[6] In 2010 and 2011 he played for the [Tonga national under-17 football team](/source/Tonga_national_under-17_football_team).[7] He represented the [Tonga national under-17 football team](/source/Tonga_national_under-17_football_team) at the [2011 OFC U-17 Championship](/source/2011_OFC_U-17_Championship) in [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand).[8][9]

## Playing career

### Early career

In 2011, he switched from Football to Rugby, he started playing for 'Apifo'ou College and represented [Tonga U20](/source/Tonga_national_under-20_rugby_union_team) at the [IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy](/source/2014_IRB_Junior_World_Rugby_Trophy) in 2014, before moving to [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) in 2015, initially on a development contract with [Tasman](/source/Tasman_(National_Provincial_Championship)).[10]

### 2018–2019

On 20 April 2018, Frizell scored three tries against the [Blues](/source/Blues_(Super_Rugby)) in a [Super Rugby](/source/Super_Rugby) match at [Eden Park](/source/Eden_Park). His performances for the Highlanders earned him a call up for New Zealand's national rugby team, the [All Blacks](/source/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team), having been tipped by the media for an unlikely All Black debut.

With injury to [Vaea Fifita](/source/Vaea_Fifita), Frizell made his debut for the All Blacks on 23 June 2018 against France. Frizell started the game at blindside flanker, playing 71 minutes on debut. Frizell had to be taken to the blood bin in the 22nd minute, due to an eye injury, so was temporarily replaced by Highlanders team mate [Jackson Hemopo](/source/Jackson_Hemopo), who was also on debut for New Zealand. Frizell came back on in the 31st minute and stayed on for the rest of the test, which the All Blacks won 49-14.

Frizell went on to start three times for the All Blacks during the [2018 Rugby Championship](/source/2018_Rugby_Championship), in the absence of the injured regular starter, [Liam Squire](/source/Liam_Squire). Frizell was one of the standout performers in the first test against Argentina, on 8 September, playing the full 80 minutes at his homeground in Nelson, scoring his first try for the All Blacks as they won 46-24. Frizell unfortunately failed to make an impact in the final two tests of the competition, including the 32-30 victory over South Africa, on 6 October. It was 6-6 at halftime, with Frizell subbed off 46 minutes into the test.

With Vaea Fifita recalled, Frizell was dropped for the All Blacks end of year tour in 2018. Rookies [Gareth Evans](/source/Gareth_Evans_(rugby_union%2C_born_August_1991)), [Dillon Hunt](/source/Dillon_Hunt) and [Dalton Papalii](/source/Dalton_Papalii) were also chosen over Frizell.

After some strong performances in the [2019 Super Rugby season](/source/2019_Super_Rugby_season), where he was among the highest try scorers, with six tries, Frizell earned a recall for New Zealand's 39 man [Rugby Championship](/source/2019_Rugby_Championship) squad.[11][12]

In July 2019, Frizell and four other players, including Highlanders teammate, [Josh Ioane](/source/Josh_Ioane), were dropped from the All Blacks, having performed poorly against South Africa in a 16-16 draw.[13] Frizell was released to Tasman for the [2019 Mitre 10 Cup](/source/2019_Mitre_10_Cup).

[Luke Jacobson](/source/Luke_Jacobson)'s concussion problems continued, which ruled him out of the [2019 Rugby World Cup](/source/2019_Rugby_World_Cup), to Frizell's benefit. Frizell immediately flew to Japan after Jacobson's injury, to rejoin the 31 man All Blacks squad. He played 1 match off the bench versus South Africa and started against Canada and Namibia scoring a try in the Canada test.

In 2021, Frizell was charged with two counts of assault against a woman, and a further one against a man. On May 9, 2021, Frizell had attacked and punched the two individuals. He also sent an abusive social media message to a friend of one of the victims. A conviction was not recorded after he pled guilty and completed police [diversion](/source/Diversion_program). He missed several games for the case, though he was only stood down for one.[14]

### 2020–2023

Frizell was named in the [South Island](/source/South_Island_(rugby_union)) squad for the [North vs South rugby union match](/source/North_vs_South_rugby_union_match) in 2020, starting in the number 6 jersey in a 38-35 win for the South.

He continued his stay in the [All Blacks](/source/All_Blacks), named in the squad for the [2020 Rugby Championship](/source/2020_Rugby_Championship) Frizell established himself as the first choice number 6 with starts against [Australia](/source/Australian_national_rugby_union_team) in a 16-16 draw, a 27-7 win and a 5-43 win.

Frizell was one of the best players during the [2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season](/source/2021_Super_Rugby_Aotearoa_season) and was again named in the [All Blacks](/source/All_Blacks) squad to play [Tonga](/source/Tonga_national_rugby_union_team) and [Fiji](/source/Fiji_national_rugby_union_team) in the July Steinlager Series.[15]

In Round 1 of the [2022 Super Rugby Pacific season](/source/2022_Super_Rugby_Pacific_season) Frizell played his 50th game for the Highlanders against the [Chiefs](/source/Chiefs_(Super_Rugby)). 2022 would go on to be a successful season for Frizell, who put behind the off-field issues of 2021 to reclaim his place as the first-choice blindside flanker during the [2022 Rugby Championship](/source/2022_Rugby_Championship); after missing a mid-year series against Ireland due to injury.

After a series of strong performances in the [2023 Rugby Championship](/source/2023_Rugby_Championship), including a Man of the Match effort against South Africa, during a 35-20 win in Auckland, Frizell was named in [Ian Foster](/source/Ian_Foster_(rugby_union))'s 33 man squad for the [2023 Rugby World Cup](/source/2023_Rugby_World_Cup). Frizell played five times during the tournament, scoring two tries against Argentina in the semifinals, to bring his test try scoring total for 2023, to four. After being yellow carded in the World Cup final; his final test match, Frizell was replaced by [Sam Whitelock](/source/Sam_Whitelock) in the 55th minute, with New Zealand collecting a silver medal after a 11-12 loss.

## Honours

**New Zealand**

- [Rugby World Cup](/source/Rugby_World_Cup) / [Webb Ellis Cup](/source/Webb_Ellis_Cup) - Third-place: [2019](/source/2019_Rugby_World_Cup) - Second-place: [2023](/source/2023_Rugby_World_Cup)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SFrizell_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SFrizell_1-1) ["Shannon Frizell player profile"](https://www.allblacks.com/playerprofiles/shannon-frizell). allblacks.com. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_2-0)** ["Rugby brothers Tyson and Shannon mark their mark on different sports fields"](https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/76960071/rugby-brothers-tyson-and-shannon-mark-their-mark-on-different-sports-fields). Retrieved 21 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Shannon Frizell"](http://www.mako.nz/shannon-frizell). *Mako.nz*. Retrieved 6 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Shannon Frizell"](http://thehighlanders.co.nz/our-team/player-profiles/53-shannon-frizell). *thehighlanders.co.nz*. Retrieved 6 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Shannon Frizell"](http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/players/shannon-frizzell-31777.html). *itsrugby.co.uk*. Retrieved 6 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Waler, Brad. ["Tyson Frizell and the brother he wasn't allowed to grow up alongside"](https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/05/04/tyson-frizell-and-the-brother-he-wasnt-allowed-to-grow-up-alongside/). *nrl.com*. Retrieved 13 December 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Tonga Football National U17 Team"](https://www.facebook.com/TongaFootball/photos/a.125783860787963/168819116484437/?type=3&theater). *Tonga Football*. Retrieved 13 December 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Tonga 0: Shannon Frizell charges out to deal"](https://www.oceaniafootball.com/archives-1579/). *Oceaniagfootball.com*. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Shannon Frizell, the All Black who played football for Tonga"](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/104936749/shannon-frizell-the-all-black-who-played-football-for-tonga). 22 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Meet Shannon Frizell"](http://www.mako.nz/news/meet-shannon-frizell).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Match Statistics for Shannon Frizell"](https://www.rugbypass.com/super-rugby/teams/highlanders/players/shannon-frizell/statistics/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["First All Blacks squad of 2019 named"](https://www.allblacks.com/news/first-all-blacks-squad-of-2019-named).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["The Unlucky Five: Where did the five dropped All Blacks go wrong?"](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-unlucky-five-where-did-the-five-dropped-all-blacks-go-wrong/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["All Black Shannon Frizell's assault charges dismissed"](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/all-black-shannon-frizells-assault-charges-dismissed/D4BKYEVOW6ZZ7K5HEVEQT22HZY/). *[The New Zealand Herald](/source/The_New_Zealand_Herald)*. Retrieved 24 September 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["All Blacks squad named for Steinlager Series"](https://www.allblacks.com/news/all-blacks-squad-named-for-steinlager-series/). *allblacks.com*. Retrieved 21 June 2021.

## External links

- [Shannon Frizell](https://web.archive.org/web/2024/http://www.espnscrum.com/timeline/rugby/player/299625.html) at ESPNscrum (archived)

- [Shannon Frizell](https://www.itsrugby.fr/joueur_31777.html#noir) at ItsRugby.fr (in French)

- [Shannon Frizell](https://all.rugby/player/shannon-frizell) at All.Rugby

- [Shannon Frizell](https://www.rugbydatabase.co.nz/player/index.php?playerId=14) at RugbyDatabase.co.nz

[Template:Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo squad](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Toshiba_Brave_Lupus_Tokyo_squad&action=edit&redlink=1)

Squads v t e New Zealand squad – 2023 Rugby World Cup runners-up Forwards S. Barrett Blackadder (replaced Narawa) Cane (c) Coles De Groot Frizell Jacobson Laulala Lomax Newell Papalii Retallick Savea Taukei'aho Taylor Tuʻungafasi Vaa'i Whitelock Williams Backs B. Barrett J. Barrett Christie Clarke Faingaʻanuku Havili Ioane Jordan Lienert-Brown McKenzie Mo'unga Narawa Roigard Smith Tele'a Head coach: Ian Foster v t e New Zealand squad – 2019 Rugby World Cup third place Forwards S. Barrett Cane Coles Coltman Frizell (replaced Jacobson) Jacobson (ruled out by injury) Laulala Moli Moody Read (c) Retallick Savea Taʻavao Taylor Todd Tuipulotu Tuʻungafasi Whitelock Backs B. Barrett J. Barrett Bridge Crotty Goodhue Ioane Lienert-Brown Mo'unga Perenara Reece A. Smith B. Smith Weber Williams Head coach: Hansen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Shannon Frizell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_Frizell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_Frizell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.