Ieuan Evans
Encyclopedia
Ieuan Evans is a former rugby union
footballer who played on the wing for Wales
. He is regarded as one of the best Welsh wingers of all time, despite playing through a disappointing era of Welsh rugby. A prolific try scorer at International level, Evans is listed 19th in the world on the all-time Test try scoring list. He is the 3rd highest try scorer for Wales behind Shane Williams
and Gareth Thomas
.
Evans was born in Pontarddulais
, Wales, and started playing rugby as a pupil at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Carmarthen and for Carmarthen Quins RFC. At the age of 19 he joined Llanelli
, initially while a student at Salford University. He went on to play in seven cup finals for the club, of which they won five. In 1997 he left Llanelli for Bath
where he was part of the team which won the Heineken Cup
in 1998.
He made his first international appearance as a right-wing for Wales against France
in Paris in 1987. He went on to win 72 caps for Wales, 28 of them as captain, and scored 33 tries - at that time a record for Wales - as well as becoming the darling of rugby TV commentator, Bill McLaren
. Amongst his most memorable moments were scoring the decisive try in the 3rd Lions Test against Australia in 1989, being captain of the Wales team when they won the Five Nations Championship in 1994 and scoring a memorable try against England in Cardiff in 1993 to secure Wales their only win of that campaign 10-9. He made his final appearance against Italy
in 1998.
He went on three tours with the British and Irish Lions
, to Australia
in 1989, New Zealand
in 1993 and South Africa
in 1997. His four tries against the All Blacks in 1993 made him the Lions' top try scorer.
Evans was awarded the MBE
for services to rugby in 1996, and announced his retirement from the game in 1999 to run his own PR marketing company. He is also a regular broadcaster, and contributes a regular rugby union blog on the BBC website. In 2007 he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who played on the wing for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. He is regarded as one of the best Welsh wingers of all time, despite playing through a disappointing era of Welsh rugby. A prolific try scorer at International level, Evans is listed 19th in the world on the all-time Test try scoring list. He is the 3rd highest try scorer for Wales behind Shane Williams
Shane Williams
Shane Mark Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Ospreys and who can also play scrum-half. Williams is the record try scorer for the Wales national team and he is third on the international list of leading Rugby union Test try scorers behind Daisuke Ohata...
and Gareth Thomas
Gareth Thomas (rugby player)
Gareth Thomas , known as Alfie, is a retired Welsh professional rugby footballer who played rugby league for the Crusaders RL in the Super League. He also previously played rugby union for the Cardiff Blues and as a fullback, wing or centre.On 26 May 2007, Thomas surpassed Gareth Llewellyn as the...
.
Evans was born in Pontarddulais
Pontarddulais
Pontarddulais is a community and town in the City and County of Swansea, Wales. It is situated north west of Swansea city centre. It falls within the Pontarddulais ward.-Overview:...
, Wales, and started playing rugby as a pupil at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Carmarthen and for Carmarthen Quins RFC. At the age of 19 he joined Llanelli
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
, initially while a student at Salford University. He went on to play in seven cup finals for the club, of which they won five. In 1997 he left Llanelli for Bath
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
where he was part of the team which won the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
in 1998.
He made his first international appearance as a right-wing for Wales against France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
in Paris in 1987. He went on to win 72 caps for Wales, 28 of them as captain, and scored 33 tries - at that time a record for Wales - as well as becoming the darling of rugby TV commentator, Bill McLaren
Bill McLaren
William Pollock "Bill" McLaren CBE was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as 'the voice of rugby'...
. Amongst his most memorable moments were scoring the decisive try in the 3rd Lions Test against Australia in 1989, being captain of the Wales team when they won the Five Nations Championship in 1994 and scoring a memorable try against England in Cardiff in 1993 to secure Wales their only win of that campaign 10-9. He made his final appearance against Italy
Italy national rugby union team
The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team is also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and since 2000 compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland,...
in 1998.
He went on three tours with the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
, to Australia
1989 British Lions tour to Australia
In 1989 the British Lions toured Australia for the first time since 1971. Despite losing the first test, the Lions won the remaining two to take the series 2-1...
in 1989, New Zealand
1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1993 the British Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand. This tour followed the Lions' 1989 tour to Australia and preceded their 1997 tour to South Africa. It was the last Lions tour in the sport's amateur era....
in 1993 and South Africa
1997 British Lions tour to South Africa
The 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa was a series of matches played by the British and Irish Lions rugby union team in South Africa.This tour followed the Lions' 1993 tour to New Zealand and preceded their 2001 tour to Australia....
in 1997. His four tries against the All Blacks in 1993 made him the Lions' top try scorer.
Evans was awarded the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services to rugby in 1996, and announced his retirement from the game in 1999 to run his own PR marketing company. He is also a regular broadcaster, and contributes a regular rugby union blog on the BBC website. In 2007 he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame
International Rugby Hall of Fame
The International Rugby Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for rugby union. It was created in 1997 in New Zealand and is run as a charitable trust with an address at Chiswick in London. Most of the trustees are also inductees. IRHOF accepts new inductees every two years...
.