One of Wales Women’s most experienced backs, Evans suffered multiple breaks, a dislocation and ligament damage to her right leg during the clash against France Women in 2006. The horrific injury caused an hour’s delay to the match and at the time, medics thought the seriousness of the injury would end her playing career. However, less than twelve months after the accident, Evans was pulling on the Welsh jersey once more.
“I did come back last season but I wasn’t at full fitness at all. I think I’d only played one club game before coming back into the national squad,” says Evans, who plays her club rugby with Clifton Ladies in Bristol. “It’s great to be back, starting a campaign in full fitness. Last year I had a great summer, I’ve played loads of sevens and played ten or twelve clubs games and I’m raring to go. I’m feeling, probably for the first time in two years, that I’m back to normal and back up to full fitness. And that sharpness is back for the first time, which is great.”
Evans is one of the most experienced players in the Wales Women’s national squad following the retirement at the end of last season of big names such as Liza Burgess, Kylie Wilson and Rhian Williams. Evans though, is impressed with the young talent coming through the ranks in the national set-up.
“Although we have got quite an experienced squad and a lot of caps we have lost some key players,” she comments. “The youngsters are coming through and it’s great to see. Rhian Bowden at hooker is looking very sharp, and Rachel Poolman at centre is only twenty years old but I feel like she’s already been around for years!”
Wales Women suffered an opening round defeat to England Women at London Irish Amateurs RFC, Sunbury-on- Thames last Saturday, losing by 55-0. Evans though is looking forward to the first of three home ties Wales Women have this season, and is positive that the home games at Taffs Well will boost morale in the Welsh camp.
“It’s always nice to have three home fixtures,” says Evans. “It’s hard travelling away because you’re always tired, sometimes having very awkward flights, so having three home games is definitely an advantage for us. We’re very confident to host Scotland and Italy at home, and we’ve got a 100% record against Ireland away in the last decade. I think we could be an Achilles heel for the French as well.”
Evans is in positive mood, and even the thought of a final Six Nations home tie to France, the match in which she suffered her injury two years ago, does not hinder her optimism.
“Since I broke my leg all I’ve ever been worried about is getting back to form; I’ve never really worried about getting injured again, just whether I can play to my full potential,” she says. “Hopefully we’ll be playing France at Taffs Well for a first or second place in the championship so there’s going to be a lot resting on that final game I think, like there was two seasons ago.”
After the excitement of the 2008 Women’s Six Nations dies down, there is further national duty for the Wales Women squad with the fast approaching European Championship due to take place in May.
“It’s a long season this year, we have a European championship after the Six Nations which could well be a qualification for the next World Cup so we’ll hope to build through the Six Nations and hopefully have a good European campaign as well.”
Evans is not only hopeful for success in the rest of this season’s tournament but is also confident for a successful future in Welsh Women’s rugby. She says ruefully: “We missed out on World Cup qualification three seasons ago and then during the season of the actual World Cup we finished second. The next World Cup could be my last one, so I hope we get there! And if we continue the way we’re playing we could be a force to be reckoned with.”
