Nick Evans scoops a prestigious award – Rugby News Update
Nick Evans, the 31-year-old New Zealand and Harlequins' fly-half has received the prestigious Rugby Players' Association Player of the Year award. He beat competition from two other players to scoop the award that is given by fellow professionals.
On achieving the award, he was magnanimous and congratulated all those who helped him receive recognition for his play this year.
"I was very surprised and humbled to win this award, it's a great honour to be voted for by your fellow professionals," Evans said. "I was up against some fantastic players. Mike, Chris, Steve and George have all been outstanding this season and just to
be nominated amongst that group is a huge honour in itself.”
Evans started his career in New Zealand, and played Aussie rules football as a youngster, before making his professional rugby debut for Otago before moving to the Highlanders in the Super 14. He is thought of as one of the best playmakers in the game and
this earned him his first international cap at the age of 23, against England at Dunedin, on June 12, 2004. With the emergence of Dan Carter, he fell behind in the pecking order. He made a switch to the Aviva Premiership for the Harlequins in 2008.
He has helped the Harlequins to the finals of the Premiership, and they want to win the title after ending first on the points table, following the 22-game season. He beat competition from Chris Robshaw, his teammate, and George Pisi, of the Northampton
Saints, to win the award.
He further stated that they are focused on achieving the title this Saturday at Twickenham. Evans said that he is part of a team and he cannot achieve anything if the team is not functioning like a well oiled machine.
In September of 2010, he signed a contract extension with the Quins, which will keep him at the club till 2013. So far he has played 68 games for the club, starting all 68 and scoring 754 points.
With this award, he might be in the frame for a re-call by the All Blacks, and he last played an international for his country in 2007, against France, at the Millennium Stadium, on October 6.
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