Shaun Stevenson to leave Chiefs for Japanese club Kubota Spears
Chiefs player Shaun Stevenson has confirmed his move to Japanese club Kubota Spears at the end of this year's Super Rugby Pacific season.
Kubota announced they had reached a contract agreement with him until June 2027.
In a release, the Chiefs said Stevenson had made an 'outstanding contribution' to
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RNZ News
12 hours ago
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific play-offs: Chiefs spring surprise
Simon Parker, Wallace Sititi. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Asafo Aumua is back for the Hurricanes for their play-off match against the Brumbies. It's a significant boost for the in form Canes, with Raymond Tuputupu backing him up on the bench and Jacob Devery dropping out of the squad. Caleb Delany comes back in at lock alongside Zach Gallagher, and Ngane Punivai is on the bench. Brett Cameron and Ruben Love once again start, which means Callum Harkin stays on the bench and also that there is plenty of cover at first five. The Chiefs have brought back Simon Parker into the loose forwards for their feature match against the Blues, however it's at the expense of Wallace Sititi. Samipeni Finau starts on the blindside, which is an interesting reshuffle given that Parker has been playing there most of the season however this time will be wearing the number eight jersey. Other than that it's a mostly unchanged Chiefs lineup, Cortez Ratima swapping places with Xaver Roe at halfback from last weekend. Only one change to the Blues, with Adrian Choat coming into the starting team at blindside, Anton Segner drops to the bench. Meanwhile, the Crusaders have reverted back to their strongest possible lineup, with David Havili back in to lead the side against the Reds on Friday night. David Havili and Tom Christie celebrate during the Blues v Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific match, Eden Park, Auckland. Photo: John Cowpland/Actionpress Crusaders v Reds Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 6 June Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Ethan Blackadder, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Rivez Reihana, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Will Jordan Bench: 16. George Bell, 17. George Bower, 18. Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 19. Tahlor Cahill, 20. Cullen Grace, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Dallas McLeod Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs dives to score a try. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Chiefs v Blues Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 7 June FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport Chiefs: 1. Aidan Ross, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Simon Parker, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Gideon Wrampling, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Etene Nanai-Seturo Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Adrian Choat, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Corey Evans Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Jordan Lay, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Anton Segner, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Cole Forbes Ruben Love and Asafo Aumua of the Hurricanes celebrate, 2024 Photo: PHOTOSPORT Brumbies v Hurricanes Kick-off: 9:35pm Saturday 7 June GIO Stadium, Canberra Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Zach Gallagher, 5. Caleb Delany, 6. Devan Flanders, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Brett Cameron, 11. Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Bailyn Sullivan, 15. Ruben Love Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Tevita Mafileo, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Hugo Plummer, 20. Brad Shields, 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Ngatungane Punivai, 23. Callum Harkin
NZ Herald
14 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Super Rugby Pacific team lists: Crusaders, Chiefs, Blues and Hurricanes name qualifying finals squads
The midfield combination of captain David Havili and Braydon Ennor returns to round out the changes made to the starting XV. While the Crusaders sit comfortably in second place heading into the qualifying finals, their spot in the Super Rugby Pacific semifinals is not guaranteed. If they lose to the Reds on Friday and the Blues upset the Chiefs in Hamilton, the Crusaders' season will be over. Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Ethan Blackadder, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Rivez Reihana, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili (c), 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Will Jordan. Bench: 16. George Bell, 17. George Bower, 18. Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 19. Tahlor Cahill, 20. Cullen Grace, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Dallas McLeod. Unavailable: Taha Kemara (knee, season), Dom Gardner (foot, season), Finlay Brewis (shoulder, season). Chiefs team to face the Blues The Chiefs will be out for revenge as they host a Blues outfit that thumped them 41-10 in the Super Rugby Pacific final in Auckland last year. Since then, the sides have met twice this season, with the Chiefs coming up trumps on both occasions – although it was only by a one-point margin when the Blues visited Hamilton back in round 5. Coach Clayton McMillan has made nine changes to his starting XV that bested the last-placed Highlanders 41-24 last week, opting for a more experienced lineup. A new-look front row sees Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei'aho and George Dyer slot into the starting side. Naitoa Ah Kuoi replaces Josh Lord and joins Tupou Vaa'i in the locking department. All Black Wallace Sititi has been shifted to the bench and replaced by Simon Parker in the No 8 jersey. Samipeni Finau and captain Luke Jacobson round out the loose forwards. In the backline, Cortez Ratima will start at halfback over Xavier Roe. Quinn Tupaea has been ruled out after suffering a head injury last week and is replaced by Gideon Wrampling. Emoni Narawa has returned from injury and will start on the wing alongside Leroy Carter. The Chiefs have already booked their spot in the competition's semifinals next week regardless of the result, but a win on Saturday night would go a long way in securing home advantage throughout the playoffs. Chiefs: 1. Aidan Ross, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Luke Jacobson (c), 8. Simon Parker, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Gideon Wrampling, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson. Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Etene Nanai-Seturo. Unavailable: Quinn Tupaea (head/eye), Anton Lienert-Brown (collarbone), Liam Coombes-Fabling (hamstring), Fiti Sa (shoulder), Manaaki Selby-Rickit (toe), Rameka Poihipi (knee, season), Kaleb Trask (ankle), Malachi Wrampling (hamstring), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (shoulder), Sione Ahio (ankle). Blues team to face the Chiefs Coach Vern Cotter has made just one change to his Blues side, tasked with taking the trip down State Highway 1 to knock over a high-flying Chiefs outfit if they wish to defend the Super Rugby Pacific title. The side snuck into the top six of the ladder after a comprehensive 46-6 win over the Waratahs at Eden Park at the weekend, but will have their work cut out for them on Saturday night. The sole change sees Adrian Choat replace Anton Segner at blindside flanker, with Segner being shifted to the bench. The equation for the underdog Blues is quite simple – win and they earn another week. Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Adrian Choat, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. A.J. Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Corey Evans. Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Jordan Lay, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Anton Segner, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Cole Forbes. Unavailable: Cam Christie (thumb), Stephen Perofeta (leg), Reon Paul (shoulder), Cam Suafoa (medical, season), Ofa Tu'ungafasi (neck, season), Sam Darry (shoulder, season). Hurricanes team to face the Brumbies Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw has made just one change to his starting XV that travels to take on the Brumbies in the final match of the round. The side put on a clinic in Wellington at the weekend, running in 10 tries to beat Moana Pasifika 64-12 and lock up fourth place on the Super Rugby ladder. Caleb Delany will replace Hugo Plummer at lock as the side heads to Canberra on Saturday. The backline remains the same, with Laidlaw opting to keep Brett Cameron at first five-eighths and Ruben Love at fullback. A raft of changes to the bench sees Tevita Mafileo and Callum Harkin come into the side, alongside Ngatungane Punivai – who has recovered from an ankle injury. If the Crusaders and Chiefs both win, the Hurricanes and Brumbies will be through to the semifinals before kickoff in Canberra. Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Asafo Aumua (cc), 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Zach Gallagher, 5. Caleb Delany, 6. Devan Flanders, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Brett Cameron, 11. Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Billy Proctor (cc), 14. Bailyn Sullivan, 15. Ruben Love. Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Tevita Mafileo, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Hugo Plummer, 20. Brad Shields (cc), 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Ngatungane Punivai, 23. Callum Harkin. Unavailable: Kini Naholo (knee, season), Riley Higgins (lower leg, season), Brayden Iose (lower leg, season), Siale Lauaki (ankle, season), Harry Godfrey (lower leg), Isaia Walker-Leawere (knee). For live commentary of Super Rugby Pacific matches featuring New Zealand teams, go to GOLD SPORT or iHeartRadio. Join the Alternative Commentary Collective on Hauraki or iHeartRadio.
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
The key reasons the Chiefs have looked a class above in Super Rugby Pacific season
The Chiefs finished top of the Super Rugby Pacific season and are the top seeds heading into the playoffs. Photo / Photosport There has been, from the opening game of the season, a palpable sense of determination about the Chiefs – one that has been fostered by the pain of losing the last two Super Rugby Pacific finals. Since they beat the Blues at Eden Park to start their 2025 campaign, they
