The Scotsman writes

Evans credits short game with providing vital building block in his Test career

Published Date: 29 May 2010
By DAVID FERGUSON
AN END-of-season weekend of sevens and the Scotland squad regrouping might not be the most seismic in the rugby world, but it registers massively on the Richter scale of Max Evans' rugby career.
The Glasgow centre will join up with Scotland's squad tomorrow to prepare for his first tour as a fully-fledged internationalist, after casting a glance over the sevens arena that provided him with a springboard into Test rugby at the relatively late of age of 25.

Evans pitched up in Glasgow in late 2006 when Thom, signed earlier by Glasgow from Wasps, told coach Sean Lineen that it might be worth taking a look at his elder brother.

He was a full-time golf pro in his father's business in Portugal, having had back problems in rugby, but at his brother's behest was prepared to give the sport another try if anyone was interested.

Evans played a handful of games for Glasgow Hawks as a trial and impressed Lineen sufficiently to land a contract, which he extended last year despite lucrative offers from France. But first he had to be sharpened up after a period out of the game and he was sent off on the IRB World Sevens circuit with Scotland.

"That was the best thing that happened to me," said Evans this week. "I never got to play at Murrayfield because I tore my hamstring at Twickenham the week before, but the whole sevens series was amazing to be part of.

"When I'd been at school in England a fellow boarder went home once to his parents in Hong Kong and invited me to go with him. I was only about 12 I think, but we went to the Hong Kong sevens and it was my first experience of a big rugby crowd, so to then find myself pulling on the Scotland jersey for the Hong Kong sevens over ten years later was incredible.

"But those first few months of sevens were a massive reason for me stepping up quickly to the top level the next year. It improved my running and handling skills so much quicker than training with a team every week would have, and the pressure, the atmosphere and crowds all made it easier to step into international rugby when I did at Pittodrie, against Canada."

A first full season at Glasgow in 2007-8 and then a tour of Argentina provided the next layer of foundations for the Test step-up in the autumn of 2008. But the focus is quite different now, as the 26-year-old prepares to return to South America.

"I had only played for Scotland 'A' before that and it was a surprise when I was told I'd be going to Argentina," he said.

"I wanted to play when I got there of course, but it was about experience for me then and getting the chance to watch your brother make his Scotland debut and be part of it all was special.

"Now, I do feel a different player. I am more comfortable about playing outside centre; I've learned to cope with the fact you're either hero or villain there, and I'm going to Argentina focused on earning a place in both Tests and winning them.

"The Six Nations was really disappointing, but we were given DVDs to study and when you look at them again – and I've looked at them again and again – it brings it home how we really should have beaten Wales, England and Italy.

"The good thing is that we didn't have time to properly review the Ireland match, so we'll have to start with that in camp this week, which is a positive starting point for our preparations for Argentina."

It is difficult to believe that it is just three years since Evans pulled on the Glasgow Hawks jersey and then starred on the IRB sevens stage with Scotland, but he retains the enthusiasm of a kid taking his first steps as he contemplates Argentina for a second time.

He will tour this time without his younger brother, Thom having suffered a spinal injury against Wales in February that has cast doubt on his future in the sport, but who remains a committed supporter.

"When Thom's injury happened it was difficult to talk about rugby," Max said, "but now that he is doing well and is so accepting of things, we're all looking to the future again. I've said to him that I'm delighted to be in the squad and that I can't wait to go back there, and that's it's a shame he can't come too this time.

"He is completely behind me and was even watching the sevens at the weekend saying: 'I'd love a go at that again.' That is great for me I have to say. He could easily have been worried after what he's been through about me going out there, but he's the complete opposite and is planning where he'll watch our games.

"Hopefully, I will get the chance out there this time and I'll definitely be thinking about him when I'm out on the pitch."

• Max Evans is supporting the RBS RugbyForce Weekend, the nationwide volunteer programme taking place at a rugby club near you on 5-6 June. Log on to www.rbs6nations.com/rugbyforce or get involved at www.facebook.com/rbsrugbyforce

This article was originally posted on 29-May-2010, 07:00 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 29-May-2010, 07:02.