Evans looking for loan move from Scarlets
STEFFAN Evans is exploring a loan move away from the Scarlets in a bid to save his World Cup dream.
The Wales international has made just nine appearances this season and despite scoring 34 tries in 55 appearances for the men from Llanelli and helping them to PRO12 glory in 2017, The Rugby Paper understands Evans is looking at a switch away from Parc y Scarlets for the rest of the season.
It is understood Evans’ representatives have begun to explore clubs who might be interested in his services and they include Premiership outfits and Wales’ other three regions.
Predatory finisher Evans, 24, has 12 caps and six tries for his country. He is seen as too much of a defensive weakness by the Scarlets.
It is now unlikely Evans will play for the Scarlets under head coach Wayne Pivac who will succeed Warren Gatland in charge of Wales after this year’s World Cup.
“Steff has got two sides to his game,” Pivac told
TRP this week. “He’s got very good footwork and he’s done a lot for us in attack in the past.
“But he needs to be a bit tougher in the contact area because he’s got the highest turnover rate in the squad. Teams are targeting him with the high ball and that’s plain for everyone to see.”
Evans has a year left on his contract in Llanelli, but his bit-part status at the Scarlets hasn’t helped his chances of making the World Cup in Japan.
He has been linked with a permanent move to Cardiff Blues and they are likely to be at the front of the queue of potential suitors. They could even sign Evans on a permanent basis should the Scarlets land Josh Adams.
Worcester and Wales wing Adams must return home if he wants to continue playing international rugby under the WRU’s 60cap rule. TRP understands Adams had verbally agreed to join the Blues, but with all four regions yet to finalise their budgets for next season, the Scarlets could yet swoop.
Meanwhile, the Scarlets face a battle to retain Kiwi flyer Johnny McNicholl who is out of contract at the end of the season.
“Johnny is looking at the Japanese market and he’s been very open and honest with us,” said Pivac. “If he doesn’t go to Japan I think he’ll stay at the Scarlets.”