Harlequins Star Set To Retire At The End Of The Season

Harlequins playmaker Nick Evans is set to retire at the end of the season.

The former All Black joins Quins in 2008 and has reached legendary status at the Premiership side. In his 206 senior appearances, he has played 14,693 minutes of rugby, and amassed a club record 2,217 points across 30 tries, 309 conversions, 476 penalties and seven drop goals.

Among his many stand out moments, his last gasp drop goal against Stade Francais at The Stoop, kicking the winning conversion in the 2011 Amlin Challenge Cup Final, and scoring 20 points in the Aviva Premiership Final will live long in the history of Harlequins and its supporters.

It was in 2013 that he overtook Club President Bob Hiller’s 37 year record as the Club’s record points scorer and is the highest scoring overseas player in the Aviva Premiership.

On confirming the news, Evans said:

“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.

“This game has taught me everything, showed me things I could never imagine and introduced me to people that are not teammates 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.

“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.”

We wish him the very best.