Weighing up his options: Nick Evans
Harlequins have offered fly-half Nick Evans a new three-year contract ahead of Saturday's Heineken Cup clash with Connacht in Galway.
Evans' current contract ends at the end of the season and with several overseas clubs rumoured to be interested in his services the London-based club have moved to retain the former All Black's services.
"There is a new contract on the table," Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea told the ERC website.
"We want him here for another three years and hopefully that will happen.
"We've offered him what he wants in terms of length. It's up to him now. We've put our best foot forward.
"Nev (Evans) would have left here a long time ago if it was about money.
"It's about making the right decision for him, his family and the long term. If he decides to leave we'll move on, but there's not a player at the club, nor a coach or supporter who doesn't want him here.
"People say he's one of the best players in Europe and even the world. Suffice for me to say he's so exceptional I'd pay to watch him train."
Evans injured his ankle in Quins' Heineken Cup victory over Biarritz last Saturday and is a doubtful starter for this weekend's clash with Connacht.
The 32-year-old said he appreciated Harlequins' offer and would take his time before making up his mind.
"Conor has been fantastic," said Evans.
"There is no pressure either way. For me it is about gathering as much information as I can for post-rugby as well as where my family are going to be best suited over the next three years.
"It is great that I am not being forced into making a decision and I really applaud the club for that.
"It would be easy for them to put the pressure on for me to make a decision."
Comments
Trader2 says...
hellovanite
My point was how can people say that NE is one of the best players in the world when he hasn't played an international in 5+ years and you cannot compare Thorn he offered something the AB's didn't have, Evans would just offer what Carter has (with not quite the same class) and by 2015 would not offer anything more than what Cruden will hopefully be offering.
Posted 07:26 20th October 2012
hellovanite says...
Trader2 and Paulo.... Have to disagree with you. Evans is made for test rugby and we evaluate the potential of a players ability to cope at the next level up based on how they play for their respective teams/provinces/clubs. Evans first game for the ABs was at FB where he scored a try I believe and to be honest the guy has never had a bad game in black jersey all 15 or 16 of them. It is utter toss to say he has nothing to offer, if this was true we would have told Brad Thorn to take a hike about 7 years ago. I know that NH rugby is not at the same skill level that our top teams play at, but it's getting better. Evans is like Frano Botica was always in the background slowly building a legacy. Frano went to league as he was offered 1 money and 2 he knew that while fox was around he was always going to be warming a bench more often than not, sound familiar? Yeah he took the money and who could blame him. The thing is I reckon if Carter hadn't been around Evans would have stayed, it's not all about the money with him I'm sure. Quins gain is our loss.
Posted 04:22 20th October 2012
Paulo says...
@Trader2 - You are sooo right re NE! You only need to look at Masoe voted Top 14's best player along with McAllister's performances for Toulouse. These players are not playing better than they ever did in NZ . . . they are just playing rugby at the level that is best suited for them. This is the NH level, which is not SH level!
Posted 21:46 18th October 2012
Rosbif says...
@Trader2. "a little nagging tug in the pit of his stomach". that's exactly it. couldn't describe it better myself. and it's even worse. it has a name. and a body, with arms and legs. imagine how he feels when he plays bath and sees donald duck playing opposite him?
Posted 18:09 18th October 2012
Trader2 says...
I liked Evans as a player and there is no doubt had he stayed in NZ he would have won a WC medal. He made his decision for his own reasons so good luck to him, I am sure however he has a little nagging tug in the pit of his stomach and that will stay with him until the day he kicks off to a higher playing field. Even if he returned home, at his age there is no way he would force his way back into the AB's and quite frankly it is typical NH BS that would call him the one of the best players in the world, he has never over the last 5 years or so been tested at international level, give me a break. I am sure he is a great player in the HC or whatever but please lets not stretch things too far. Harlequins v Connacht in Galway just doesn't have the same ring to it as AB's v SA at Loftus no matter what way you look at it.
Posted 14:52 18th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Ah yeah but why did he say he'd never go back to NZ? Because he is gutted not to have been part of the WC win and to see Donkey Donald take his glory. ABs are 10+ points worse when Carter is off the pitch and the rising stars are not yet at Carters pre AB standard. Only Evans could close that gap and give the next generation a bit more time. Never say never. Last chance... Maybe the family are missing home too...
I hope DannyC is right and Quinns becomes his home. O'Shea is playing it right. What a contrast to Mallindar/Ashton and Cockers/12trees.
Posted 14:15 18th October 2012
hellovanite says...
tha_mai says... he and McAllister play better there than they ever did in NZ.... What a load of socks! Evans was awesome in NZ and in my mind rivalled Carter all the way. McAllister had his days but was a bit of a sulk when things didn't go his way. I personally miss Evans more than any other player that has left these shores. He is a maestro of running, kicking and putting players in space. He has played no small part in the rise of Harlequins over the last couple of season. I alway looked forward to watching him play for Otago. One out of the box and devastingly underrated for far to long!
Posted 09:31 18th October 2012
three6three6 says...
It is not really in the NZRFU ethos to sign 32 year old players with a view to playing in a tournament scheduled for 2015. The is no doubt that Evans is a world class player - this is re emphasised everytime he plays for Harlequins. The real problem with bringing Evans back to international rugby is that this would reduce opportunities for developing junior talent.
Posted 03:36 18th October 2012
ramm83 says...
@ArmchairGeneral - Evans has already come out and said that he would never go back to NZ, even when he retires from rugby. It's the UK, France or Japan...
Posted 22:46 17th October 2012
tha_mai says...
As NE weighs up rest home options! another player who has flourished in Europe, he and McAllister play better there than they ever did in NZ
. . . it won't involve playing back in his homeland. "I will not go back to New Zealand to play. If I was to move, it would be to France or Japan," Evans told the BBC, with money an obvious factor.
Posted 22:45 17th October 2012
rabja795 says...
Funny how it's now, not all about the money. I seem to remember that being the driver for him to leave nz??
Posted 22:19 17th October 2012
swiwi says...
@ArmchairGeneral - ain't going to happen. Evans has said so himself. He's not getting younger. Cruden & Beauden Barrett are the future. Damn shame for Evans he got injured after about 5 minutes in 2007, might have been a hero
Posted 21:02 17th October 2012
dannyc28 says...
I hope he signs,completes the 3 years and then becomes a coach at Quins , he's that awesome!
Posted 19:12 17th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I can see him going to Auckland with Graham Henry and joining the ABs for the World Cup pushing Carter for a spot and seeing in the RC Carter gets rested. He will see a likely WC winners medal if he does that, and back to roots.
Posted 19:04 17th October 2012