Will Evans (rugby union)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Will Evans
Birth nameWilliam Giles Evans
Date of birth (1997-01-28) 28 January 1997 (age 27)
Place of birthNorwich, England
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight102 kg (16 st 1 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Current team Harlequins
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2019 Leicester Tigers 43 (25)
2019– Harlequins 50 ()
Correct as of 01 November 2022

William Giles Evans (born 28 January 1997 in Norwich, England)[1] is an English rugby union openside flanker who plays for Harlequins in Premiership Rugby. He previously played for Leicester Tigers, he made his Tigers debut against Gloucester having graduated from the academy.

Career[edit]

Evans made his Tigers debut on 2 April 2016 against Gloucester at Welford Road; at the age of 19 years and 64 days old he became the second youngest forward to play for Leicester in the Premiership.[2]

He was selected for England Under 20s in the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship which England won and was named in tournament's "Dream Team".[3] He was also the only Under 20s player to make the Sky Sports 28/06/16 Team of the Week.

Evans received his first call up to the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones on 1 August 2016 for a pre-season training squad.[4]

On his 20th birthday, he scored a try in the 27–20 win over Northampton Saints in which Tigers qualified for the semifinals of the 2016-17 Anglo-Welsh Cup.[5] however he injured himself in the process and didn't return until 9 April, when he played for the A-side against Worcester.[6]

Evans was selected for the England U20s team for 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[7]

Evans went on to win the Gallagher Premiership in 2021 with Harlequins. Despite missing the end of the season due to injury he was one of the standout players.

In April 2024, Evans scored a try in Harlequins 42-41 defeat of Bordeaux Bègles. It was only the second time overall and the first time away that the club had won a knockout game in the European Champions Cup.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Will Evans". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Leicester Tigers NEWS: Debut boy Will Evans loved the day he 'never thought would happen'". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Four Irish players named in the U20 Team of the Championship". newstalk.com. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  4. ^ "England squad: Nathan Hughes in, Danny Cipriani and Chris Ashton out". BBC Sport. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Leicester Tigers". leicestertigers.com. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  6. ^ "'A' League team news for Sunday afternoon" (Press release). Leicester Tigers. 9 April 2017.
  7. ^ "England U20 squad named for title defence". World Rugby. 21 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Investec Champions Cup: Bordeaux 41-42 Harlequins - Quins win thriller to reach semi-finals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2024.