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Nick Evans lands new job alongside former All Black
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Harlequins legend Nick Evans is heading to coach in Japan next season following his departure from the Twickenham Stoop and has agreed a deal to become an assistant coach with Toshiba Brave Lupus.
The Brave Lupus, who play in Japan Rugby League One’s Division One, were beaten in the quarter-finals of this season’s competition 26-3 by Kubota Spears, who themselves lost the final 22-13 to Kobe Steel earlier this month.
Evans, 45, spent 18 years at Quins as a player and coach and is their all-time record points scorer, and had been linked with a move to Munster but is instead heading to the Brave Lupus, who are based in Fuch?, a commuter town for central Tokyo.
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He will link up with former All Black Todd Blackadder, who has been in charge of the Brave Lupus since leaving Bath seven years ago and who are captained by Christchurch-born Japan international Michael Leitch.
Harlequins announced on Wednesday, as first reported by RugbyPass, that Jordan Turner-Hall, Defence and Transition, and Sean Long, Skills and Transition, will be joining their senior coaching team next season.
Hurricanes assistant Brad Cooper is the favourite to replace Evans, who bid an emotional farewell to the club following their 38-31 victory over Gallagher Prem finalists Northampton Saints two weeks ago.
“There have been lots of goodbyes and reflecting. I feel like I know every blade of grass here, so to have my last game here was pretty special. Myself and my family love this club and want it to succeed.
“I’ve been here for 18 years, and I want to thank them and their support. They have been absolutely brilliant, and we are now lifelong Harlequins fans.
“I leave feeling hugely grateful and honoured not only to have worn the shirt and represented those legends who came before us,” said Evans.
