Born in Durban, South Africa, to English parents, he played both prop positions, and most of his England appearances were at tighthead.

He went on to represent England Under-21s at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, held in Oxfordshire, impressing the first team coaches and winning a place on the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

A shoulder injury during the 2006 Six Nations would rule Stevens out for over a year, with his next international action coming in the second test of England's summer tour of South Africa in 2007.

He made his debut for Saracens and went on to a central role as the Watford-based club claimed their first Premiership title with victory over Leicester in the final at Twickenham in May 2011.

In February 2014, it was revealed that Stevens would return to South Africa after the conclusion of the 2013–14 English Premiership season to join the Sharks in August of that year on a two-year deal.

[4] Due to his appearance on the show, he raised over £125,000 for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and in October 2006 he was invited to meet the statesman in Johannesburg.

After retiring from Rugby, Stevens moved to Cape Town, South Africa with his wife, India and twin daughters Ava, a talented netball and waterpolo player, and Coco, who loves singing and acting and is a member of the Cape Town Opera Children's Chorus.