YOUNG GUNS
Lloyd Evans makes no bones about the fact he is frustrated. As a fly-half of considerable game-breaking quality who earned his first professional contract with Gloucester last May, this season had been mapped out to be another giant step along the path to stardom for the former England U20s schemer.
Instead, a scaphoid injury to his left wrist proved problematical and has led to a lengthy period on the sidelines for a player who idolised Dan Carter, Stephen Jones and Ronan O’Gara as a youngster and remains earmarked for a huge future.
“I picked up the injury towards the back end of last season and it’s been particularly annoying,” Evans, below, told The Rugby Paper.
“At first you think it’s just a sore wrist and try to carry on, but it soon became apparent the scaphoid was broken.
“We went down the operation route, which involved inserting a screw and growing a bone base around it, and I’m ready to push on again now. But it killed my pre-season, which was massively frustrating because I wanted to be involved.
“We’ve got a new coach in Johan Ackermann so you want to get out and show what you can do, but it’s all part and parcel of rugby and all you can do is get your rehab right, develop your physique and strength and concentrate on your skills.”
Having been granted the all-clear, Evans is now playing catch-up in the A-League while turning out for Hartpury RFC in the British & Irish Cup. The next step is to apply some heat to regular No.10s and Test hopefuls Billy Burns and Owen Williams.
Evans, 21, said: “Gloucester are pretty lucky to have two quality fly-halves like that, but I’ll hope to get involved in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in January and if Owen’s involved with Wales or anyone takes a knock, I’ll make sure I’m ready to step in.
“Of the England U20s side I played in, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Stu Townsend and Paul Hill have all done good things, while I played with Sam Underhill at U18s level, so it’s great to see their journeys and it’s something I’m keen to follow.”
Evans, who also qualifies for Wales through his Swansea-born father, tries to combine the best of the best, adding: “I like to run with the ball and I’m an all-round player. I wouldn’t say I have a certain style, but I’ve developed a skill-set which I channel into different circumstances depending on match situations and conditions.
“Dan Carter was a big hero of mine growing up and he inspired me to play, while I also enjoyed watching Stephen Jones play for Scarlets and Wales. He wasn’t the most talented player but he played a certain way and was successful.
“Ronan O’Gara was another with his fantastic kicking ability and Owen Farrell’s the man I currently look up to, so I like to think I’ve take something from all of those. “Now it’s about pushing my career on and challenging for a first team
place.”