Six Nations: Painful memory stirring emotions of Evans brothers

Published on Wednesday 9 February 2011 18:15

MAX Evans is comfortable that he will cope with the emotions of facing up to Wales in the rematch of the game which ultimately ended his brother Thom's rugby career, but he revealed that his younger sibling will not be there as it would be too emotional.

It was in the first half of Scotland's second match in last year's RBS Six Nations Championship match in Cardiff that Thom suffered a spinal injury after crashing into Lee Byrne, the Wales full-back. It was a match that Scotland performed superbly in, but, in a dramatic conclusion, allowed a 24-14 lead to slip away and Wales to win.

Max Evans admitted that, only with match analysis some time later, did he appreciate what had happened in the game as he had finished it with concern only for his brother, who was by then lying in the nearby Cardiff hospital. Unlike many who suffer spinal injuries, Thom recovered the full use of his limbs, but he retired from professional rugby and is currently in Los Angeles studying acting.

"He won't be coming to this game," said Max. "He's very happy in Los Angeles at the moment, but we spoke on Sunday after the France game and he actually said that it was unexpectedly hugely emotional watching that game.

"He has seen rugby being played and seen me playing rugby since the injury, but this was the start of the Six Nations, where it all happened last year, so, from his point of view, it was hugely emotional last week and I'm sure it would be pretty emotional for him to come back this week.

"The only moment I've really felt emotional was when we played clips, which we tend to have before the games to give the guys a lift and add confidence going into the game, and there were some where Thom had a great run and scored a great try. Of course I knew what he'd done in his career, but when you see it again like that it sinks in a little bit.

"But no, in terms of on the field and building up to games, I've had time to get used to it and the fact that he's not on the field with me."

The 27-year-old, who has shifted from centre to wing with Scotland, admitted that he had feared for his safety when returning to the game after his brother's injury, which, bizarrely, was back in Cardiff the following week with Glasgow.

That has gone now, but when asked if it gave him a different perspective on his achievements, and whether he was more thankful to have the opportunity, he said: "When I walk off every game, yeah. I'm sure anyone with a friend who has had a nasty injury has that feeling that they're still able to play, so every single game I'm thankful.

"I look at Thom's injury and the detail of what happened, and know it could happen to anyone. It was a really innocuous challenge.

"He just tilted his head down slightly and it was the speed he went in. That's the scary thing, that it could have been anyone, but it doesn't happen very often. So very unlucky.

"Early on I did (worry]. In the Cardiff game for definite, straight after the Welsh game, I was tentative going into tackles and making tackles, but I'd hate to think how many actual collisions and hits I've had since that.

"If you go into it worrying about it hurting or holding back slightly, it's going to hurt a lot more than if you're confident and really just go in for it. Early on, yes it did, but now not at all."

Evans' lack of concern was evident when asked whether he felt his brother could become a talented actor, and he laughed, saying that he had a knack of "being in the right place at the right time".

He accepted that the rugby injury suggested that was not always true, but highlighted the point by recounting his brother's recent romance with Kelly Brook, the English actress and lingerie model.

"Some of the stories that he's accumulated over the years have just been… I've constantly said 'how do you find yourself in that position?'

Take for example his meeting with (actress] Kelly Brook. He didn't pursue her, but happened to be in the right place at the right time and, given who he is, he's able to work his magic almost.

"But, I have no doubt in terms of who he is that he will make it in whatever he pursues. I can report that he's thoroughly enjoying the acting at the moment in Los Angeles. It's still early. He's done a bit of acting in school plays, but never had any acting classes. But all this time it's just about him trying to find what he wants to do."

Thom remains an enthusiastic supporter of his elder brother too, and, a constant reminder of how a rugby career cannot be taken for granted, helps with motivation, which this weekend is focused simply on learning from the Cardiff defeat.

"Obviously, it was hugely disappointing after putting in such a good performance and being on the brink of having a great victory, to have it taken away, but we performed better than them right up until the last ten minutes and a lot of the guys have said that that is a lesson they're not going to forget going into this game.

"There was a lot of frustration early this week, but we've done the analysis and now it's all focusing on the game on Saturday."

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