Evans hatches plan to return to New Zealand - as a coach

It’s been a while, but former All Black first five-eighth Nick Evans finally has a return to New Zealand on his radar.

The 36-year-old has announced that the current season with Harlequins in the English premiership will be his final in a 17-year career as a professional player – the last nine of which have been spent in the UK. But the North Harbour product will not be walking away from the game.

Not surprisingly, Evans has confirmed a career in coaching almost certainly beckons and he has told the Star-Times that he hopes to land a key role in New Zealand as soon as he has the requisite experience under his belt. ‘‘There might be an opportunity to move into the Quins coaching side of things, but I haven’t 100 percent made a decision on that yet,’’ said Evans, who has been cutting his coaching teeth this season with Wimbledon at the lower levels on the English national scene, alongside his playing commitments.

‘‘We’ll stay up here for a little bit longer then hopefully make our way down to give back to New Zealand rugby, where it all started.

‘‘That’s down the line. Quins have been fantastic to me and if I can help out any way there it will be my first port of call. But I definitely want to head back to New Zealand, bring the family back, and help New Zealand rugby where I can. ‘‘I think I’ve got a pretty good package of experience in New Zealand and up here, so that’s the plan. But it is rugby, and things can change at the drop of a hat.’’

Evans said the move into coaching felt like a natural shift for him given all the intellectual property he had developed both in New Zealand and the English club game.

‘‘It’s what I do well, it’s what I know,’’ he told the Star-Times.

‘‘I want to craft my coaching up here. My name, my reputation is up here at the moment, and I might as well run with that and try to build something new on the coaching side of things.

‘‘Hopefully that appeals to a team in New Zealand and I can come back and improve a side.’’