Chiefs' star Shaun Stevenson heads to Japan for brief sabbatical
Chiefs fullback and one Test All Black Shaun Stevenson has been granted a short-term sabbatical to Japan, to link up with the Kubota Spears for part of the Japan League One season.
Stevenson will still wear the Chiefs jersey this season, only missing the first three Super Rugby Pacific games. He could play up to six games for the Kubota Spears who are sitting fifth on the Japan League One ladder.
The move comes after months of speculation about the 28-year-old’s future in New Zealand, when it was reported that Stevenson was offered a lucrative deal by the Japanese club in the last year of his NZR contract.
The Waikato Times has revealed that New Zealand Rugby opted to grant Stevenson a special short-term sabbatical. Stevenson could line up this weekend for the Kubota Spears in their matchup against TJ Perenara’s Ricoh Black Rams.
Stevenson will still be eligible for All Blacks selection this year if Scott Robertson selects him at any point.
Stevenson will then link up with the Kubota Spears from next year, leaving New Zealand and the Chiefs permanently.
Stevenson will have some familiar faces around in Japan, as North Harbour teammate Bryn Hall also plays for the Spears. Former All Blacks defence coach Scott Mcleod is also on the coaching staff of Stevenson’s new club, forming a small Kiwi contingent.
The move was questioned by the public, especially as the deal would let an All Black walk away from a NZR contract in order to earn more money overseas, rather than play Super Rugby in New Zealand.
The Waikato Times understands Stevenson will head to Japan today, but had recently travelled to Japan to link up with the Spears to train and get used to the environment, before a quick stop back in New Zealand to finalise the deal with New Zealand Rugby.
Latest Comments
HAHAH NO!
New Zealand had age grade teams the Junior All Blacks Baby Blacks well before WR decided to change the ages to u20s. Baby Blacks/The previous world tournament, were just a year different. Nothing changed with the u20 championship came around.
As the dominant sport, there was always a desire to participate and compete for these sorts of teams (and probably traditionally the best in the 90's and 2k's too, not really sure. I think it probably that which grew their dominance at that young age. But were also slow to change to the 'high performance' system were it's not about compete as much, but being in the pipeline from a much younger age (so pumps out more physical players as being hand picked have followed a professional path longer).
It is likely still that capacity which lingers in SA, where the systems are so broad you can't have the same HP focus(too expensive to have all over the country etc).
But I agree, HP focus, as reflected in u20 results, paid the way for those largely amatuer focused (its a history thing) nations catching up to compete more consistently.
Go to commentsYou really don't make sense when you argue off the back foot.
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