All Blacks future unclear for Nick Evans

May 6 2008 By Media Wales

Harlequins-bound Nick Evans is unsure if his decision to leave New Zealand rugby at the end of the year will negatively affect his chances of playing for his country.

Evans has agreed a three-season deal with Guinness Premiership Quins and is due to leave New Zealand at the end of the Air New Zealand Cup in October.

However, should he miss out on selection for the Tests against Ireland and England in June and the following Tri-Nations series, Evans has a clause in his contract that will allow him to leave early.

“If I am not picked because I am not playing well or I don’t fit into the scheme of things for the All Blacks then so be it,” he told the New Zealand Herald.

“If I am picked I will be happy, if I am not I will be disappointed, bloody disappointed, but it will not be through lack of trying.”

Since making his debut against England in Dunedin four years ago, the Blues playmaker has played 16 Tests but has started just five.

In most eras, Evans would have been an automatic choice to start for the All Blacks at fly-half but he has had to settle for playing second fiddle to Daniel Carter.