No Blame for Shaun Stevenson’s Early Release Request
No-one should have a dig at one test All Black Shaun Stevenson for requesting an early release from his contract with NZ Rugby and the Chiefs.
A sweet deal from a Japanese club is on the table. It’s his right to ask that he be allowed to clean-out his locker as soon as possible.
This is what we know.
Stevenson’s Request: A Delicate Decision
Stevenson has asked NZ Rugby and the Chiefs to gift him an early Christmas present by tearing up his contract, which would enable him to join Japanese club Kubota Spears Funabashi instead of appearing in Super Rugby Pacific.
It’s a delicate issue. It requires careful consideration from all parties.
A Potential Domino Effect for NZ Rugby
While he may not be the only player to want to wriggle out of a Super Rugby contract, Stevenson could be one of the first to have his wish granted at such short-notice and just a few months before the competition starts.
If he succeeds, NZ Rugby – which contracts all Super Rugby players – knows it could be pulling a cork out of a bottle.
It should expect more employees to follow Stevenson’s lead and try their luck at getting an early release, so they can join a cashed-up overseas club.
Contrast with Veteran Departures
Players usually agree to join an offshore outfit once they have fulfilled their obligations to NZ Rugby, announcing their intentions months in advance. Veteran All Blacks Sam Cane and TJ Perenara did just that.
One-test All Black Harry Plummer will leave for France when he’s completed his duties with the Blues in 2025.
Why the Urgency from Kubota Spears?
Kubota, however, are eager to recruit fullback/wing Stevenson as a replacement for Welsh international Liam Williams who has returned to Britain.
Things have clearly happened in a hell of a hurry, given Stevenson was listed in the Chiefs squad when it was revealed last month.
Williams may not be the first player to exit a Japanese club in pre-season, forcing it to scramble for an international to fill the hole.
But on this occasion, Kubota have taken the rare step of attempting to immediately poach a player from NZ Rugby and the Chiefs.
Loyalty to Chiefs but Limited All Blacks Prospects
Stevenson has been loyal to the Chiefs; he’s played 96 games since 2016.
His sole test cap was under former All Blacks coach Ian Foster in 2023.
The arrival of Scott Robertson as Fosters’ replacement hasn’t coincided with Stevenson extending his international career, hardly a great surprise given his form for the Chiefs this season was modest.
Although Stevenson was a member of the All Blacks XV squad that toured the northern hemisphere, he appeared at fullback against Irish club Munster and Georgia, he didn’t get close to featuring for the All Blacks.
A Career at a Crossroads
Robertson’s decision to call in Chay Fihaki as outside back cover for the All Blacks ahead of the likes of Emoni Narawa and Stevenson was telling.
It’s not the first time Stevenson has been linked with an overseas sports club.
He spoke to NRL coach Wayne Bennett in 2022, as the latter sifted through potential talent for start-up team, the Dolphins. Nothing came of it.
Super Rugby Pacific’s Loss Could Be Kubota’s Gain
If Stevenson farewells the Chiefs, the franchise may miss him for what he offers on and off the grass. Old heads have a lot to offer younger members: They set the tone with their professionalism in multiple facets.
The Super Rugby Pacific competition will also be poorer for his absence.
It needs talented All Blacks, past or present, on the park. Stevenson, 28, still has a lot to offer. He’s hardly washed-up.
Super Rugby’s Struggle for Fans
NZ Rugby administrators must have looked at the 26,200-strong crowd that attended the A-League Men’s football game between Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix at Mt Smart Stadium last weekend, with envy and anxiety. And rightly so.
Super Rugby may be very popular in the digital sphere, according to the game’s administrators, but getting fans to attend fixtures remains a problem. Modest attendances, and reduced revenue, are a major headache.
Who would have dared believe a domestic game involving a round-ball would create such hype in a country where rugby is considered to be the national sport?
And no-one needs to mention the Warriors, who also pull in the punters at the same venue during the NRL season.
The Battle for Ratings Intensifies
Super Rugby Pacific is a competition that desperately needs every international player it can lay its hands on, if its to pull the punters back through the gates.
Stevenson may not have a five-star rating, but he can still entertain. Players like him could help land heavy punches in the fight for ratings.
It’s a scrap that’s showing no signs of cooling down. Instead it’s getting hotter.
Kubota’s Growing Strength
There are already some big names playing for the Kubota Spears including Malcolm Marx, and Ruan Botha, to name a couple with potential.
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