Rugby: UK move the right one, says Evans

Nick Evans
Nick Evans
Former Otago All Black Nick Evans misses his old team-mates but is adamant he made the right decision to turn his back on New Zealand rugby and join the Harlequins club in England.

After his man-of-the-match performance for Harlequins at the weekend, Evans said he was loving every minute of his time with the London club, the Stuff website reported.

He rated Harlequins' 19-17 win over Stade Francais among the top five matches of his career.

The 16-cap All Black played a key role in a win that leaves the Londoners unbeaten and at the top of pool four in the Heineken Cup.

The former Blues and Highlanders first five-eighth is enjoying a leadership role at the club and it was his decision-making deep into injury-time that led to a win over the highly rated French club.

Twice Evans shunned the opportunity to attempt a winning dropped goal before he scuffed a low kick over the bar to snatch the win.

"I'm very proud to be in a position to repay Deano [Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards] for getting me over and the boys for having faith in me," Evans, who reportedly signed for about $880,000 a year, said "It was a hard decision to come over but the whole time has been amazing.

I have not regretted the decision to come here.

"The days when you grind out wins like last week tops it off. It was one of the top five games I have played in my career."

Evans has proved to be a smart signing for Harlequins, despite being out of action for six weeks with knee ligament damage.

"We'd never have won that game two or three years ago," Stuff reported Richards as saying of the victory over Stade Francais.

"I didn't think the 29 phases were all about Nick Evans. The forwards played their part but Nick's decision-making was critical and that is what we have been lacking."

 

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