On the Comeback Trail: Harlequins’ Fly-half Evans Reflects on His Journey

After a Year Out of the National Team

After a year out of the national team, Harlequins’ fly-half Sam Evans is determined to regain his place in the Wales setup. The 24-year-old, who last featured for his country in 2021, finds himself out of favor alongside players like Callum Sheedy, with Ben Thomas, Sam Costelow, and Ioan Lloyd preferred at fly-half by Wales head coach Warren Gatland last season.

A Disjointed Year at Harlequins

Evans’ first year at Harlequins was disrupted by injuries, limiting him to just 17 appearances, though he is now the second choice behind England international Marcus Smith at the Stoop. “It’s gone all right, although it was a little bit disjointed in terms of my minutes,” Evans admitted. “Last year, I picked up a few niggles. On the whole, I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve got better. I’ve been out of my comfort zone. I can’t complain. I am just looking forward to getting started this season.”

Leaving the Comfort Zone

The fly-half, who departed his hometown club Cardiff, acknowledges that the move away from familiar surroundings has been a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience. “I wouldn’t want to be one of them people who look back on my career and say ‘I wonder what that would have been like’,” he said. “The circumstances forced me in a direction, I suppose, where I had to [leave]. But come the end of my career, being out of my comfort zone and even having to live away from home, will make me grow and, down the line, make me better as a person and player.”

Reuniting with Former Coaches

Evans has reunited with former Cardiff boss Danny Wilson, now the head coach at Harlequins, and is excited to work with backs coach Nick Evans, who brings a fresh perspective honed from his experience in New Zealand. “When you’ve been at a club for so long, playing the same way and hearing the same voices, it’s just refreshing to hear someone else’s opinion on how the game is played,” he said. “I know Danny from Cardiff, but Nick Evans brought great variety in terms of how he sees the game. He picks up a lot of stuff from New Zealand with his link there. I’ve learned quite a lot of intricacies, but the principles stay the same.”

Determination to Evolve and Improve

As Evans looks to reclaim his place in the Wales squad, his determination to evolve and improve, both on and off the field, will be key to his success.

🔗 Source