Background
Stephens was born in Paeroa in 1947 and educated at Tauranga Boys" College. His father, Mortimer Stephens, had played rugby league in the 1930s for Auckland, Saint Helens, Rochdale Hornets, and Bradford Northern.
rugby league player rugby union player
Stephens was born in Paeroa in 1947 and educated at Tauranga Boys" College. His father, Mortimer Stephens, had played rugby league in the 1930s for Auckland, Saint Helens, Rochdale Hornets, and Bradford Northern.
He has the distinction of being one of only three players to have played international rugby union for both New Zealand and Australia. He left New Zealand in 1970 and switched codes from rugby union to rugby league, but he was reinstated back into rugby union while in Australia. However, he later changed codes again to play rugby league.
Rugby union
A wing, Stephens played for Bay of Plenty and Wellington at a provincial level in New Zealand, and for the Athletic Rugby Club in Wellington.
In Australia he played at club level for Saint George, and represented New South Wales. Only three players have played rugby union at test match level for both New Zealand and Australia: namely Des Connor, Ted Jessep and Stephens.
Rugby league
He played club level rugby league for Saint George Dragons (trial), Parramatta Eels (twice), and Wakefield Trinity, as a wing, id est (that is) number 2 or 5.