Max Evans signed for the Warriors from Hawks during season 2006/07 following his brother's flit north to realise one of his main ambitions, to become a professional rugby player.

However, the unbelievably talented genes that compliment the Evans family also saw Max become a professional golfer shortly after an initial spell with Harlequins.
"When I left school," he told the Warriors' official e-zine, "I got a contract with Harlequins but the set-up there wasn't very impressive. You were never given any feedback on your progress and I found it difficult to know where I stood most of the time.

"So one day, I was playing golf with my dad and played an absolute blinder and decided to return to Portugal and work towards a PGA professional certificate."
Golf has always been a hobby of Max's having started playing at a very young age.
"I had my first set of clubs when I was only one-year-old and I used to play all the time, but my attention shifted away from golf when I went to school.

"Golf takes so much of the day out so I switched to the other main sports because it was a little kinder on my school timetable. That's when rugby started to take over."
He continued to play golf during the summer holidays in the sunnier climate of the Algarve where his father is the professional and director of golf at the Pinheiros Altos resort and that's where he began his studies to become a professional.

"The PGA course takes about three years and is run from the Belfry. Each year consists of five modules which include business finance, sports science, sports coaching, equipment technology and the rules with exams and coursework for each module. It's widely accepted as the highest and best qualification in world golf so it'll last me a lifetime.
Max doesn't get much of an opportunity to play golf as much as he'd like right now due to his playing schedule, coupled with the good old Scottish weather.
"There are so many famous Scottish courses that I want to play. Obviously St Andrew is high up there with Turnberry, Loch Lomond, Gleneagles and Carnoustie. I'd also like a round on Royal Troon so I better speak nicely to Shawzy [Colin Shaw] because he's a member there."

Although his rugby career now takes precedence over his golf, he still manages to get along to the major events that come to Scottish shores and even knows a few famous faces that are on the other side of the ropes.
"I managed to get along to the Scottish Open this year. Over the years I've gotten to know Lee Westwood and Andrew Coltart pretty well and I got to caddy for my uncle Chris [Evans, the well-known broadcaster] during the All Star Cup down at Celtic Manor when the European team was captained by Colin Montgomerie. It was a great experience and Colin was just a really nice guy.

Currently on his way back from a knee injury, Max is using his spare time to his advantage as he keeps one eye on life after rugby.
"I'm learning Chinese with Chris O'Young through an adult course at Glasgow University.
"China is such a great place for golf. They're building an incredible number of courses so to have those qualifications behind you, and to be involved with a course in its early stages of development, it's a good career to work towards because I won't be able to play rugby forever."

This article was posted on 10-Jan-2008, 08:19 by Hugh Barrow.