Ian Evans (rugby player)

Ian Evans
Full name Ian Richard Evans
Date of birth 4 October 1984
Place of birth Johannesburg, South Africa
Height 204 centimetres (6 ft 8 in)[1]
Weight 116 kg (18 st 4 lb; 256 lb)
School Blaengwawr Comprehensive School
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Lock
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2005–2014
2014–		 Ospreys
Bristol		 129
11		 (15)
(0)
correct as of 18 January 2015.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2006–
2013		 Wales
British & Irish Lions		 33
0		 (5)
(0)

Ian Evans (born 4 October 1984 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a Wales international rugby union player.

Evans was brought up in Aberdare, and began playing his Rugby Abercwmboi RFC and then moved to Pontypridd RFC once he was eligible for senior rugby. He quickly made his mark upon Wales' Age-Grade selectors with a succession of athletic and promising performances for the Valleys' team. Joining up with Swansea RFC in 2004, he progressed through the internal system to play for the Ospreys in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup, and has played for the national team. His usual position is at lock. He was the tallest member of the national team at 2.03 meters, but has since been demoted to 2nd tallest with the inclusion of Luke Charteris.

He represented Wales at both under-19 and under-21 levels. Evans made his Celtic League debut against Munster as a replacement in September 2005 He also made his Heineken Cup debut against Leicester. He made his debut for Wales in June 2006, playing in two Tests against Argentina, scoring a try in the first game. Evans then went on to start 3 of Wales' 4 matches in the 2006 Autumn internationals including the match against New Zealand. He was due to make his comeback from long term injury versus the Pumas in a World Cup warm-up game in Cardiff but suffered a further setback, damaging his collar bone.

After an impressive 2013 Six Nations Championship, where Evans played an important role in Wales' second successive title, he was selected for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. However he would not feature in any of the Lions test matches. Evans missed the 2014 Six Nations Championship through suspension after the lock stamped on Leinster's Mike McCarthy in a Heineken cup game.[2]

On 27 November 2013, Evans initially signed a three-year contract to join top French team Toulon in the Top 14.[3] However, the deal fell through and instead he signed for English club Bristol Rugby, despite Bristol competing in the RFU Championship.[4]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.lionsrugby.com/2013tour/squad.php?player=9021&includeref=dynamic
  2. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/wales/10593401/Six-Nations-2014-Ospreys-lock-Ian-Evans-12-week-ban-for-stamping-a-huge-blow-to-Wales-Championship-hopes.html
  3. ↑ "Wales and Lions lock Ian Evans to join Toulon". BBC Sport. 27 November 2013.
  4. ↑ "Bristol sign Wales and Lions lock Ian Evans from Ospreys". BBC Sport. 23 June 2014.

External links