The Chiefs have been dealt a hammer blow ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season with All Blacks back Shaun Stevenson leaving the team effective immediately.
This is according to a report by New Zealand journalist James McOnie, who broke the news on social media platform X on Monday.
It’s yet another setback for the Chiefs who announced on the same day that All Blacks prop Aidan Ross would be joining the Queensland Reds in July 2025.
Shaun Stevenson leaves the Chiefs
Like Stevenson, Ross has played just once for the All Blacks despite strong performances over several seasons for the Chiefs. The front-rower will qualify for Australia in July 2025 and could make his mark for the Wallabies in the British and Irish Lions series.
Meanwhile, McOnie states that Stevenson is off to Japan where he will join Rugby League One side the Kubota Spears.
“Bit of a rugby bombshell. Fullback Shaun Stevenson is leaving the Chiefs to play for Kubota in Japan, effective immediately. He’s 28 and because he played his only test for the All Blacks last year, Stevenson will be eligible for Samoa at the next Rugby World Cup,” his post read.
Stevenson earned his debut for New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup clash against Australia in August 2023. There were hopes that Scott Robertson’s arrival as head coach would lead to further caps for the beloved outside back but he was not involved with any of the All Blacks squads this year but did turn out for the All Blacks XV during their northern tour.
Test switch on the cards
However, Test rugby is not completely off the cards for Stevenson, who scored three tries and assisted six for the Chiefs in 2024, as he could switch international allegiance to Manu Samoa in August 2026 due to his Samoan heritage.
The 28-year-old signed a contract through to the conclusion of the 2025 season and has seemingly been granted an early release from his deal if the report is to be correct.
It would, however, make sense as Kubota recently lost the services of Welsh international full-back Liam Williams, who opted not to return to Japan for a second season and instead signed a short-term contract with Saracens as injury cover.
Stevenson’s potential move to Japan may also re-spark rumours of a switch to rugby league. The exciting back reportedly drew interest from the Redcliffe Dolphins before he re-signed with the Chiefs and New Zealand Rugby last year.
“In terms of keeping your options open, like any player, the world’s your oyster,” Stevenson told Stuff.co.nz in March last year.
“If you want to go give it a crack, you give it a crack, if you want to go over to Japan, you go over to Japan, or if you want to stay in New Zealand and chase the black jersey it’s totally up to you. So we’ll see what happens.’’
He has seemingly taken up one of those options in joining Kubota ahead of their opening game of the season on December 22, against Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster’s Toyota Verblitz.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/all-blacks-back-makes-bombshell-move-effective-immediately-after-scott-robertson-snub
