One-test All Black, Chiefs star Shaun Stevenson granted short-term Japan sabbatical

Tuesday, 14 January 2025

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Star fullback Shaun Stevenson is on his way to Japan, but will still pull on the Chiefs jersey in 2025.

The Waikato Times can reveal that New Zealand Rugby have opted to grant the one-test All Black a unique short-term sabbatical, one which will see him suit up for the Kubota Spears as early as this weekend, but also see him return early in the Super Rugby Pacific season.

He is then set to link with Kubota full-time next season, remaining eligible for the All Blacks through this year.

As reported last month, Stevenson was seeking a release from the final year of his NZR contract in order to take up a lucrative deal with the Japan Rugby League One club.

That came as Wales veteran Liam Williams made a surprise exit from the club in order to return to the UK to be closer to family ahead of the birth of his first child.

And with Stevenson having not proved to be on All Blacks coach Scott Robertson’s radar in 2024, after earning a maiden cap under Ian Foster in 2023, the 28-year-old became quite the tasty target.

Shaun Stevenson is set to pull on the Chiefs jersey again in 2025, but only after a brief stint in Japan.

But clearly wary of setting a dangerous precedent, the ball was then in NZR’s court as to whether they would happily allow a contracted player to walk out early to merely earn more coin elsewhere, or to stand firm and ensure deals are adhered to.

In the end, they’ve opted to somewhat have their cake and eat it too, making a concession that will see Stevenson allowed to link with Kubota through till their March 1 fixture against Richie Mo’unga’s Toshiba Brave Lupus.

It means Stevenson could play a maximum of six games for Kubota – who are coached by South African Frans Ludeke and sit fifth on the 12-team table a quarter of the way through the regular season – starting with Saturday’s home clash in Tokyo against a Ricoh Black Rams side featuring TJ Perenara.

After a division-wide bye week, Kubota then play away games against the Mitsubishi Dynaboars on February 1 and the Canon Eagles on February 8, before hosting the Kobelco Kobe Steelers (a team the Chiefs have a longstanding relationship with and whose roster features former Chiefs centurion Brodie Retallick) on February 15 and the Shizuoka Blue Revs on February 22.

The Waikato Times understands Stevenson is flying to Japan on Tuesday, and while debuting just four days later might seem like being thrown into a foreign environment too quickly, it’s understood the silky outside back has in fact already spent around 10 days training with the club before a quick trip back to New Zealand, after getting his groundbreaking move green-lighted from NZR late last month.

Shaun Stevenson scored on his All Blacks debut, but hasn’t been able to add any more tests to his name.

There are also a couple of familiar faces in the Kubota ranks to help his transition, with Stevenson’s long-time North Harbour team-mate Bryn Hall on the books, while the defence coach is Scott McLeod, who had the same role with the All Blacks when Stevenson made his test debut.

Stevenson’s offshore venture will mean the Chiefs will be without his services for their opening three games – their final re-match against the Blues at Eden Park on February 15, then home fixtures against the Crusaders (February 21) and Brumbies (March 1).

Having been one of the premier players in Super Rugby in 2023, Stevenson didn’t quite hit the same heights in 2024 but remained a dangerous prospect for defences nonetheless, and Chiefs fans are sure to breathe a sigh of relief that he will remain eligible for the majority of the campaign, as they seek to go one better than their back-to-back runner-up finishes the past two seasons.

His early absence could see – as has previously been the case – Etene Nanai-Seturo shift from wing to fullback, which could further open the door on the flank for newly-acquired former All Blacks Sevens flyer Leroy Carter, while another option could involve utilising one of the playmaking trio of Damian McKenzie, Josh Jacomb and Kaleb Trask in the No 15.

The Chiefs’ round-four clash against the Fijian Drua in Lautoka on March 8 then shapes as a possibility for Stevenson’s return.

Sitting on 96 caps since his debut in 2016, he is also in line to become the Chiefs’ 11th centurion this season.