Scotty Stevenson is a senior sports writer for The Spinoff, and a commentator and columnist.
If Israel Folau really wants to stay in Australian rugby union, he’s got a funny way of showing it, writes Scotty Stevenson. Oh, and Rugby Australia is being played.
As the Hurricanes held off the Chiefs on Friday night, Scotty Stevenson had a chance to reflect on the simple joy of watching a game.
New Zealand Rugby needs its biggest city to be in love with rugby union. But, if last weekend is anything to go by, Auckland may be considering a love affair with that other rugby code. Can the Blues win over a jaded public?
Last week the Highlanders reigned victorious over the Crusaders in the southern derby. Scotty Stevenson explores the metaphysical reasons why they beat the old foes from up the road.
There are more problems than solutions when it comes to the integration of Sevens World Series events, but, as Scotty Stevenson discovered in Sydney, it is clearly the way forward for the sport.
From Auckland to Methven, two Aussie lads chased the essence of New Zealand rugby. Scotty Stevenson recounts their journey.
Another big name All Black has been tempted to the Northern Hemisphere. Scotty Stevenson reports.
The Black Ferns recognition as the World Rugby Team of the Year is a big deal for women athletes around the world.
Wellington and Hurricanes stalwart Brad Shields may be in line to play for England at the next World Cup after turning down the chance to join the All Blacks on tour. Cue predictable outrage. But spare us the guilt trip, writes Scotty Stevenson.
The Samoa Rugby Union needs a hand up, not a hand out, writes Scotty Stevenson. It also needs a complete administrative overhaul and an end to the culture of intimidation, cronyism and silence that disrespects the players and the game.
There's not a lot of hope for Australian rugby ahead of tonight's test, says Scotty Stevenson.
To the sound of country music, long suffering Northland rugby fan Scotty Stevenson fears a winning season could be inevitably lost.
There will be motivation aplenty for both teams tomorrow when the All Blacks face the Springboks at Albany, but the most motivated of all might be the only guy in the All Blacks team who remembers what it is like to lose to South Africa in New Zealand.
The All Blacks have chosen to share the love in the selection this weekend – that’s good news for one man who continues to graft away in the background, and would be just as happy hunting pigs in the Canterbury high country, writes Scotty Stevenson.
It should be New Zealand provincial rugby’s greatest rivalry, but the Battle of the Bridge barely rates a mention on the list of great contests. Is 2017 the year to change all that? Scotty Stevenson certainly hopes so.
At least one person will have a bob each way when the Black Ferns take on England in the final of the women's World Cup on Sunday morning, writes Scotty Stevenson.
New Zealand and Australia have always enjoyed a well, special, sporting relationship. But if this week has proved anything it is that the Wallabies and the All Blacks barely have a relationship at all any more, writes Scotty Stevenson.
The All Blacks have lost Jordie Barrett to injury, so they have simply called up another kid with a bottomless bag of tricks – the Crusaders’ David Havili. Here's how he got there.
Home advantage is a very real thing in the history of Super Rugby finals, but the Crusaders don’t mind a road trip, and won’t be worried about being away from home this weekend.
It’s only fair that most of the focus ahead of this weekend’s Super Rugby semi-finals will be on the players but, as Scotty Stevenson writes, both crucial clashes will also be defined by a battle between the old and new schools of professional coaches.
For the first time in NZ school sports history, players at this year's National 1st XV top 4 semi-finals will be subject to anti-doping testing, reports Scotty Stevenson.
The Super Rugby finals kick off this weekend with the best attacking teams in the competition favoured to have it all their way in the first round. That’s all well and good, but finals footy is finals footy, and as Scotty Stevenson discovers, we may need to have a conversation about discipline, too.
The weirdest draw in all of professional sports naturally gets a weird ending this week. Maybe it’s just time to admit that the system is too weird for everyone, writes Scotty Stevenson.
What if we added another three tests to the next Lions tour, without troubling the blokes at all? It's time for the British & Irish Lionesses, writes Scotty Stevenson.
As the weather closes in on Wellington and the vultures circle the conceptual carcass of the British and Irish Lions, the second test against the All Blacks shapes as perhaps one of the most important in the history of this great touring party.
Scott 'Razor' Robertson took the reins as the Crusaders head coach at the end of last season. So far his Super Rugby coaching record reads: 12 wins, no draws, no losses. Scotty Stevenson caught up with him in Fiji last week to talk about his coaching philosophies ahead of the Crusaders' Friday night match against the Chiefs.
