Scotty Stevenson speaks to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen after he won the NZ Rugby Coach of the Year during the 2015 Steinlager Rugby Awards. Photo/Getty Images
Scotty Stevenson speaks to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen after he won the NZ Rugby Coach of the Year during the 2015 Steinlager Rugby Awards. Photo/Getty Images
Rugby television commentator, sports writer and Bream Bay old boy Scotty Stevenson talks to Northern Advocate sports editor and occasional radio commentator Andrew Johnsen.
It's not often someone can be recognised by voice alone. Commentators such as Ray Warren, Richie Benaud and Ian Smith are some of the select few.
But proud Northlander and rising Sky Sport rugby commentator Scotty "Sumo" Stevenson is on the path to joining that illustrious company.
The Bream Bay broadcaster was drawn to the national game at a young age. He spent his youth playing rugby on cold winter mornings.
"I played for Waipu and then Mid-Western as a kid with a great bunch of mates. We would be shipped to and from games on the back of Johnny Holder's ute and invariably would end up at Okara Park in the afternoon trying to sneak into the stand on rainy game days.
"I was too weak to be a prop, too short to be lock and too slow to be a loose forward. I eventually stopped playing as a 19-year old after a couple of shoulder injuries and a couple of head knocks.
"I missed playing for a very long time after that, but did coach some school rugby when I hung up the boots."
But rather than fade away from the game, Stevenson turned his attention towards covering rugby.
SKY TV commentators Ian Jones and Jeff Wilson join Scotty Stevenson during the naming of the All Blacks squad for the 2015 Investec Rugby Championship. Photo/Photosport.nz
After finishing his high schooling in the halls of Bream Bay College and Auckland Grammar, Stevenson moved onto the lecture theatres at Auckland University of Technology to study a Bachelor of Communications.
He would like to tell you he finished the qualification, but "it pains me to say I didn't quite go the distance."
"Stay in school, kids," he adds.
From there he went through various different roles before being given an opportunity at Sky Sport which would be the beginning of something special.
Sky Sport quickly became a home for the quick-witted Stevenson, who helped him hone his craft.
"It was really my first chance to work in a live sport environment so I owe everything to that. Those of us in front of the camera or behind the mic are the least important cogs in the machine.
"What blows me away every single week is the talent of the production crew and their dedication to the product.
"Originally, our former producer Andrea McVeigh gave me my first job at SKY Sport and I was indebted to both Kevin Cameron and Andrew Fyfe, respectively the former head of sport and former executive producer of Rugby for their support.
"Colleague Ken Laban was very generous in encouraging me to pick up the match microphone and encouraging others to allow me to do so. I am in debt weekly to the crew at SKY Sport, without whom we can't do our job."
A meticulous planner, Stevenson also has a trademark sense of humour.
The most prevalent example of this is his burgeoning relationship with Radio Hauraki, who feed hilarious lines which he slips into his commentary.
"Apparently I am the commentary mentor for the Alternative Commentary Collective's Champagne Rugby coverage this Lions series, which terrifies me.
"I work closely with the Hauraki team and we just figured one day that it would be fun to slip a few lines into the coverage.
"In fairness, it says plenty about the language of punditry that no one really notices!"
Scotty Stevenson interviews current All Blacks captain Kieran Read back in 2013. Photo/Photosport.nz
But it really is the preparation that sets him apart. He "collate stats, details, player information and match context detail and watch game coverage and clips" which are then paired with handwritten team lists.
Writing is a major component in his repertoire, one which he has a deep affinity for.
"Writing is the most important element. I love telling stories and what better way to tell them? I have been lucky to write about sport as much as talk about sport.
"I have also been lucky to have written several biographies which have been challenging and satisfying."
In rugby, as with everything, there are moments where the excitement dulls and you may find yourself tired of it. But does Stevenson?
"I would commentate a sloth race. I have kept every team sheet and every programme of every game I have ever called.
"I was thinking about this very question the other day and some of my favourite games have been what you might call, "old school". I love the opportunity to call games so no, I never tire of it."
Stevenson continues to be a rising star in the commentary business - he was given calling duties for the Crusaders clash against the British and Irish Lions - and will only get better as time goes on.
