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Harlequins legend Evans to retire

Harlequins’ Nick Evans.

Harlequins and former All Blacks fly-half Nick Evans has announced he is to retire from rugby at the end of the season.

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Evans won 16 caps for New Zealand, playing at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, before joining Harlequins in 2008 and going on to make 208 senior appearances for the Premiership club, scoring a club record 2,217 points.

He is also the highest-scoring overseas player in the competition’s history.

“I thought leaving New Zealand was hard, but leaving the game I’ve played since I was eight years old, and professionally for 17 years, is tough. But when you know, you know,” Evans said.

“This game has taught me everything, showed me things I could never imagine and introduced me to people that are not team-mates but family.

“I need to thank the clubs I have represented, the coaches – who have helped shape the player I am today – and the fans, both in New Zealand where it all started, and here in the UK, for their support and cheers.

“I will never be able to express how much representing the All Blacks, and living my childhood dream, meant to me.

“I want to thank my parents and brother who are my biggest fans, and thank them for all the support, trips to training and games, and their ‘constructive criticism’ as only family can give.

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“But most importantly my wife Sally and kids Olivia, Harry and Billy, thank you for being there through good and bad and making it easy to play the game I love; your support has been amazing.

“I couldn’t think of a better shirt and place to finish my career at than Harlequins, I want to thank the club and fans for making myself and my family feel unbelievably welcome; it has made our time so special.

“Importantly I have to also thank the players for keeping me going over my time here. I am only a little cog in the Harlequins machine and I couldn’t have done anything without my mates beside me on the field.”

Harlequins director of rugby John Kingston commented: “The word ‘legendary’ is really over used within the modern sporting world, but in the case of Nick Evans and his rugby playing career at Harlequins, it is the perfect description.

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“It is a huge statement to make, but I genuinely question if any player in the history of the club has had such an impact on team performances.”

Evans played for the Highlanders and the Blues before joining Quins, with whom he won the Challenge Cup in 2011 and Premiership title in 2012.

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Nickers 25 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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