{{Short description|New Zealand rugby union footballer (born 1980}} {{distinguish|Stevan Bates}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Steven Bates | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Steven Paul Bates | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|01|16|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Auckland, New Zealand|Auckland]], New Zealand | height = {{convert|193|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|110|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}} | school = [[Kelston Boys' High School]] | university = | relatives = [[Michael Bates (cricketer, born 1983)|Michael Bates]] (brother) | occupation = | spouse = | position = [[Flanker (rugby union)|Flanker]], [[Number 8 (rugby union)|Number 8]] | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2000–2001 | clubs1 = [[Auckland Rugby Union|Auckland]] | apps1 = 8 | points1 = 0 | years2 = 2002–2007 | clubs2 = [[Chiefs (rugby union)|Chiefs]] | apps2 = 57 | points2 = 35 | years3 = 2002–2007 | clubs3 = [[Waikato Rugby Union|Waikato]] | apps3 = 75 | points3 = 95 | years4 = 2008–2016 | clubs4 = [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]] | apps4 = 119 | points4 = 290 | repyears1 = 2001 | repteam1 = [[New Zealand national under-21 rugby union team|New Zealand U21]] | repcaps1 = 4 | reppoints1 = 0 | repyears2 = 2004 | repteam2 = [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] | repcaps2 = 2 <!-- Total international tests and matches --> | reppoints2 = 0 <!-- Total international points --> | repyears3 = 2005–2006 | repteam3 = [[Junior All Blacks]] | repcaps3 = 7 | reppoints3 = 10 | clubupdate = 28 May 2020 | repupdate = 28 May 2020 }}

'''Steven Paul Bates''' (born 16 January 1980 in [[Auckland]], New Zealand) is a New Zealand [[rugby union]] footballer, whose usual position is at [[Rugby union positions|Number 8]]. He played for [[Waikato Rugby Union|Waikato]] at provincial level and the [[Chiefs (Super rugby franchise)|Chiefs]] in the [[Super Rugby|Super 14]]. Bates made the traditional [[All Blacks]] route to the top with appearances for New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand U-19 and the U-21s, during this time he played [[Rugby league]] and was good enough to be selected for the [[Warrior]]s U-19s. He played his first test for his nation (v Italy 2004).<ref name=statsblabla>{{All Blacks|1044|Steven Bates}}</ref>

He played in the [[Top League]] team [[Toshiba Brave Lupus]] under Australian coach [[Joe Barakat]], with other New Zealand players [[Richard Kahui]] and [[David Hill (rugby union)|David Hill]].{{cn|date=July 2025}}

==Notes and references== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Sport links}}

{{Auckland NPC squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bates, Steven}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Rugby union number eights]] [[Category:New Zealand rugby union players]] [[Category:New Zealand international rugby union players]] [[Category:Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo players]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Auckland]] [[Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby union players in Japan]] [[Category:Chiefs (Super Rugby) players]] [[Category:Auckland rugby union players]] [[Category:Waikato rugby union players]] [[Category:People educated at Kelston Boys' High School]] [[Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen]] {{NewZealand-rugbyunion-bio-1980s-stub}}