Rugby League: Hard man Adrian Shelford dead at 39

Former New Zealand rugby league test player Adrian Shelford has died in England aged 39.

Shelford died of a heart attack, former New Zealand rugby league coach Frank Endacott told NZPA today.

"I can remember training him as a first grader in Christchurch, and whatever you gave him for training he wanted to do more. He always did his own personal training, and was a fitness fanatic. It's absolutely devastating news.

"He went to school with my oldest boy. We go back a long way with the family."

Shelford played for New Zealand from 1985 to 1989 and made his test debut against Papua New Guinea in 1986.

His last test was the second test against Great Britain in 1989

He also played in the World Cup in 1988 and toured Great Britain and France in 1985 and 1989, although he did not play in any tests during the 1985 tour. He also toured Australia and Papua New Guinea in 1986 and 1987.

New Zealand Rugby League chairman Sel Pearson said Shelford was a hard and uncompromising player hut he was not dirty.

"He was a tough man but not a dirty player. He just went out there and played hard and a real nice guy off the field," Pearson said.

"He was a real hard a man and sometimes there is a little bit if spite involved when they talk about that but he certainly wasn't like that," Pearson said.

- NZPA