All Blacks and Chiefs outside back Shaun Stevenson will join Japanese club Kubota Spears immediately, New Zealand Rugby have confirmed.
Stevenson was overlooked by All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson in 2024 despite another strong Super Rugby Pacific season and in December last year, the outside back requested an early release from his contract to join the Japan Rugby League One team.
Stevenson secures short-term move
“Bit of a rugby bombshell. Fullback Shaun Stevenson is leaving the Chiefs to play for Kubota in Japan, effective immediately,” journalist James McOnie wrote on X at the time.
While Stevenson has been granted the release, there is a caveat as New Zealand Rugby have only agreed to an ‘immediate short-term release’ effectively allowing the Chiefs star to join the Japanese club until the end of February.
“New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the Chiefs Rugby Club have agreed to an immediate short-term release to allow Shaun Stevenson to play for Japanese side Kubota Spears,” the statement confirming his move to Japan read.
“Shaun will return to New Zealand to be available for the Gallagher Chiefs for Round 4 of DHL Super Rugby Pacific.”
New Zealand Rugby General Manager of Professional Rugby and Performance Chris Lendrum believes that the decision was a good outcome for all parties.
“We’ve been discussing Shaun’s future for a little while and have reached a decision that balances Shaun’s individual circumstances with his commitments to the Gallagher Chiefs and Super Rugby,” he said.
“Shaun has been a professional rugby player in New Zealand for 10 years and has progressed through to the very top of our game. Throughout that time, he has been a committed Gallagher Chiefs player and remains so for the upcoming season.”
Kubota were dealt an early blow ahead of the new season with Wales and Lions fullback Liam Williams opting not to return to Japan and instead, he rejoined Saracens on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
Possible Test switch?
This prompted the need for Kubota to recruit an outside back and they turned their attention to Stevenson who will now miss the opening three rounds of the Chiefs’ Super Rugby Pacific season.
He will miss the clash against the defending champion Blues in round one as well as the side’s first home game of the season against the Crusaders.
The Chiefs then face the Brumbies in round three with the outside back returning for the fixture against the Fijian Drua.
Stevenson has just one Test cap to his name after debuting for New Zealand against the Wallabies in 2023.
The 28-year-old could switch international allegiances if he fails to feature for the All Blacks again as he will be eligible for Samoa at the next Rugby World Cup.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/latest-twist-in-all-blacks-bombshell-move-as-nzr-release-shaun-stevenson-ahead-of-super-rugby-season
