THE HERALD REPORTS

KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer March 12 2009
Max Evans could not contain his excitement at the prospect of facing Brian O'Driscoll for the first time, as it was finally confirmed that he and younger brother Thom have agreed new deals to stay at Glasgow Warriors.

The rate of the siblings' rise from relative obscurity to hot rugby property was summed up when he offered a reminder that he has played against the Ireland captain for neither club nor country. Typically, he views thatas more of an advantage than anything else.

"It seems a bit crazy because a lot of the guys have been telling me things, saying you probably know this already from Magners League matches', but I've hadto tell them Ihaven't even played against him yet," he said. "In a way, that's a good thing for me because he hasn't played against me either . . .


"I'm just so excited, not only about playing against him, but playing against Ireland at home with a chance to upset them."

That the older Evans brother has the audacity, to some, to think that O'Driscoll would have the slightest reason to worry about a player who has started just two Tests outlines precisely why the pair have been in such demand that the Scottish Rugby Union faced a real battle to keep them in the country as offers flowed in from, in particular, big-spending French clubs.

So, too, was Max's response when, after Thom acknowledged that the offers became "sillier" each time they indicated they did not want to leave Glasgow, it was jokingly suggested that the wealthy French clubs might have offered sports cars and supermodels as part of the deal. "He doesn't need to be offered supermodels," grinned Max, nodding towards his brother who is, after all, a former member of a boyband.

Both have alluded to sibling rivalry being a motivational factor, but the past two years of flat-sharing have cemented their personal relationship. It has been the set-up since Thom persuaded Sean Lineen, the Warriors coach, to offer a trial to Max, a PGA card-holding golfer.

The contracts they have been offered, keeping them at Warriors to 2011, are believed to make them the best-paid players in Scotland, but a major consideration was that they wanted to continue to play together and, both still single, they are now looking to invest in property in Glasgow.

"The fact that we've both been comfortable at Glasgow together had a big impact," Max explained. "If we didn't feel we were gelling or there was something maybe lacking, not just on the pitch but off it, and we'd started to niggle one another, then it might have been different.

It has been moving completely in a positive direction, so why spoil that?"

Along with that family bond, there was a powerful sense of loyalty to the greater Scottish cause. "The money can throw you because it is staggering the amounts they can offer," Thom admitted. "But taking everything into account . . . going to a new place, possibly having to go to learn French, not having the national coaches on the doorstep to give you advice on what you need to work on is not something I was personally happy to do.

"I'm not going to lie; there was a lot of discussion. With French clubs being able to spend the money they can, some of the offers were quite tempting, but we definitely felt we were making the right decision. I didn't really see myself leaving, because I've enjoyed myself so much here. Playing alongside Max has been great for me; it can only improve my rugby.

"Going somewhere else and having to start afresh definitely would have had a negative effect on my rugby so, with Scotland trying to clamp down and get international players playing in Scotland, it was the right decision. We want to play for Scotland. That's priority No.1."

Another important factor was the relationship they have with Lineen. "We've got a lot to give back to Scottish rugby," Thom continued. "My career's taken off due to coming up here. Max was given a great opportunity by Sean Lineen when he was still playing golf. That's something we really respect. You've got to show someone you respect them byputting in what they've given you."

Max elaborated on that theme as he reflected on the fact that he had always believed he had a better chance of playing top-level sport as a rugby player than as a golfer.

"Sean's very passionate," he said. "That comes across to us. He's got a lot of belief in us and it's great to have a coach like that supporting you. The way he talks about the future is really positive. A lot of coaches wouldn't have considered giving me a chance when I'd been out of rugby, playing golf for two years, so I feel I owe him that loyalty."

Even so, it would have been hard for either of them to turn down what was on the table had they not believed inLineen's vision for the club. "Sean's quite good in that he'll always tell us what he's thinking," said Thom. "Not necessarily the people he's looking to sign, but Glasgow is a young squad, with the likes of John Barclay and John Beattie in the back row, and I feel we're improving every year as a squad. I know a lot of coaches say that, but I genuinely feel it."

This article was originally posted on 12-Mar-2009, 08:01 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 12-Mar-2009, 08:03.