Shaun Stevenson

Shaun Stevenson
Stevenson representing the Chiefs during the 2020 Super Rugby season, February 2020
Full nameShaun Tualaulelei Stevenson
Date of birth (1996-11-14) 14 November 1996 (age 28)
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight100 kg (220 lb; 15 st 10 lb)
SchoolAuckland Grammar School
Notable relative(s)Salesi Rayasi (cousin)
Casey Stevenson (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback, Wing
Current team Chiefs, North Harbour
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2016 Waikato 11 (20)
2016– Chiefs 95 (157)
2017– North Harbour 60 (129)
Correct as of 10 June 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016 New Zealand U20 4 (17)
2017–2022 Māori All Blacks 12 (30)
2019 Barbarian F.C. 1 (5)
2022 All Blacks XV 1 (10)
2023– New Zealand 1 (5)
Correct as of 10 June 2024

Shaun Stevenson (born 14 November 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an outside back for North Harbour in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Chiefs in the international Super Rugby competition.[1][2][3][4]

Early career

Born in North Shore, in the Auckland suburbs, Stevenson attended Auckland Grammar School where he played first XV rugby for 3 years. During his high school years he also played for local Super Rugby franchise, the Blues at under-18 level.[4]

Senior career

Stevenson started out his provincial career with Hamilton-based side Waikato in 2015. He debuted in a match against Tasman on 14 August 2015 and went on to start in all 10 games during the season, scoring 4 tries in the process. He won the Waikato Supporters Club player of the year award as a reward for his fine debut season.[4] 2016 was not such a happy year for him as a MCL knee injury 38 minutes into the opening match of the season ruled him out for the rest of the year.

In October 2016 it was announced that Stevenson would join newly promoted Mitre 10 Cup Premiership side North Harbour for 2017, a move that would take him back to his place of birth.[5]

Super Rugby

His debut season at provincial level brought him to the attention of local Super Rugby franchise, the Chiefs, who named him in their wider training group ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season. He debuted in the opening match of the campaign, a New Zealand derby against the Crusaders, before a shoulder injury suffered in that game ruled him out for several weeks. In total he played 6 times and scored 2 tries in 2016. This was enough to see him promoted to the Chiefs main squad for 2017.[3]

In May 2019, the Chiefs extended Stevenson until 2023.[6] A month later, he scored the first hat-trick of his career in the big away victory 59-8 against the Melbourne Rebels, allowing the chiefs to qualify for the playoffs of the 2019 Super Rugby season.[7]

On Week 2 of the 2023 Super Rugby season, he scored a hat-trick against Moana Pasifika. He confirmed his good start to the season on the following day when he scored twice against the Highlanders. These performances early on in the 2023 season brought a lot of attention to him with many stating he should be selected to the All Blacks.[8]

International

Stevenson was a New Zealand Schools representative in 2014 and was also a member of the New Zealand Under 20 side which finished 5th in the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship where he scored 5 tries in 4 appearances.[9][10][11] Stevenson made his senior test debut in a Bledisloe Cup test match on 5 August 2023 versus Australia, where he scored a try and helped the All Blacks win 23-20.[12]

Personal life

Stevenson is a New Zealander of Māori descent (Ngāpuhi descent).[13]

Super Rugby Statistics

As of 15 April 2023[2]
Season Team Games Starts Sub Mins Tries Cons Pens Drops Points Yel Red
2016 Chiefs 6 2 4 178 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
2017 Chiefs 17 3 14 510 4 0 0 0 20 0 0
2018 Chiefs 9 5 4 466 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019 Chiefs 11 8 3 696 4 0 0 0 20 0 0
2020 Chiefs 8 4 4 549 3 0 0 0 15 1 0
2021 Chiefs 10 6 4 594 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
2022 Chiefs 5 5 0 371 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
2023 Chiefs 17 15 2 1210 12 0 0 0 60 0 0
Total 83 52 31 4576 28 0 0 0 140 1 0

References

  1. ^ "Shaun Stevenson Waikato Player Profile". Mooloo Rugby. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Shaun Stevenson itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Chiefs 2017 Squad Guide" (PDF). All Blacks.com. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Shaun Stevenson Chiefs Player Profile". Chiefs Rugby. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Exciting Waikato backs Shaun Stevenson and Jordan Trainor to move north". Rugby Heaven. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  6. ^ Goile, Aaron (2 May 2019). "Super Rugby: Shaun Stevenson re-signs with Chiefs on long stay till 2023". Stuff. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Stevenson grabs hat-trick as Chiefs march into playoffs". euronews. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Ex-All Black fullback backs Shaun Stevenson for a call-up". www.rugbypass.com. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Shaun Stevenson All Blacks Player Profile". All Blacks.com. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Younger brothers of All Blacks named in under-20s squad". New Zealand Herald. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  11. ^ "New Zealand Schools and Barbarian Schools teams named". All Blacks.com. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  12. ^ "All Blacks' fightback floors the Wallabies in Bledisloe Cup thriller in Dunedin". 5 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Player Profile: Shaun Stevenson". All Blacks (Official Site). Retrieved 17 March 2024.