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Stevenson on long-term life in Japan, Samoa switch and why he turned down the NRL
Stephen Foote • January 16th, 2025 11:00 am
Photo: Photosport
Shaun Stevenson's All Blacks ambitions appear all but dead and buried, with confirmation he intends to seek a fulltime move to Japan when his NZ Rugby contract expires at the end of 2025.
The one-Test international has been granted a short-term sabbatical by NZR for a stint with Japan's Kubota Spears, meaning he'll miss the opening three rounds of the Chiefs' upcoming Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
The arrangement is a compromise between the two parties, with Stevenson initially seeking a full release from the final year of his deal to join the Japan Rugby League One on a multi-year contract.
And speaking with Sport Nation's Summer Drive, Stevenson confirms he will return to Japan at the end of the Chiefs season to join Kubota on a long-term basis, likely bringing the curtain down on his brief All Blacks career.
After a breakthrough 2023 Super Rugby season with the Chiefs culminated in his Test debut, Stevenson was overlooked for Ian Foster's World Cup squad - one of the carrots that had been keeping him on NZ shores.
Injuries hampered last year's campaign with the Chiefs, and he was seen as surplus to requirements by new coach Scott Robertson.
With the likes of Shay Fihaki ahead of him in Razor's pecking order, Stevenson admits he read the writing on the wall and chose to seek greener - and more lucrative - pastures abroad.
"I probably didn't have the year that I wanted with injuries and some feedback, so it was pretty disappointing on both those fronts," Stevenson said.
"But Kubota gave me an opportunity to get over here and it was a new challenge for myself.
Shaun Stevenson scores a try in his All Blacks debut I Photo: Photosport
"I've been at Chiefs and NZ Rugby for the last 10 years. This is something new and what I needed at this time of my career.
"There were a few conversations that probably didn't get across to me. When you see players get picked in front of you, you just have to take a step back and do what's best for yourself and for your family."
While the decision may scupper his All Blacks prospects, it doesn't necessarily mean we won't see the Auckland product on the world stage in future.
By way of his family heritage, Stevenson will be eligible for selection for Samoa by the time the 2027 World Cup in Australia rolls around and he isn't ruling out a change in allegiance.
"We'll see. We'll have to wait and see how a few things with the rugby union turn out," he teased.
"My ultimate focus at the moment is just to play well for the Chiefs and Kubota and we'll see what happens from there."
He's also long been linked with the NRL for a potential code switch to rugby league, and has been involved in ongoing discussions with "a couple" of clubs "for a while now" in regards to a move to the 13-man code.
However, Stevenson confirmed he's since come to the conclusion that such a shift didn't align with his goals for life after professional sports.
"I was in talks with a couple of league teams and feeling out a couple of things. My skill set probably suits a lot of what the league style is.
"I had to weigh up a few things with my future in terms of what was going to be the best in terms of how it was going to help me after footy.
"Ultimately, it just came down to my long term goals and what I'm doing after footy."
The opportunity with Kubota arose when Wales fullback Liam Williams decided to return to the UK. The club reached out to Stevenson and he was on his way north to Japan a couple of days later, jetting back home briefly to get his visa before returning.
With just a couple of weeks training under his belt, Stevenson will make his debut for his new club this weekend in their fifth match of the new season alongside fellow Kiwis Bryn Hall and Akira Ieremia, squaring off with TJ Perenara's Black Rams Tokyo.
"We'll see what happens. Maybe I'll get a little cheeky nudge in at the bottom of a ruck. But he might get to me first," he joked about the prospect of taking on his fellow Kiwi.
"It's always nice playing against old teammates and boys that you used to play against in New Zealand.
"I'm just looking forward to dusting off the boats and getting back out there."
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