The RGC lock got the biggest cheer of the night when he came on earlier than expected against Ireland in the opening round of the U20 Six Nations on his home patch at Stadium CSM.
Starting from the bench, an early knock to Harlequins lock Jonny Green in the 28th minute meant the 19-year-old was thrown into the action sooner than he anticipated. He had no time for butterflies as the crowd started roaring their support, realising one of their own was about to make his international debut.
“I could hear people saying HIA when I was walking down towards the pitch but when I was on the side-line, I could hear the doctor saying ‘he’s 18’ so immediately I’m thinking I’m not on just for 10 minutes, I’m here for the long haul,” he recalled earlier this week.
“Obviously then I’m thinking I’ve got to give it my all now. I’ve only got 10-15minutes to get to halftime. I can go again in the second half, but it was a bit like 100 miles per hour and people screaming behind me when I came on – it was great to hear the backing of everyone so I just thought to myself, I’ve just got to nail my job now.”
The North Wales rugby fraternity are rightly proud of Evans who started his rugby journey at his local club Clwb Rygbi Llangefni. He switched to Caernarfon across the bridge at U13s as ‘we didn’t have enough players at the time’ to stay put. He was made captain of his new club while also flourishing at school.
“My secondary school was Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni, a state school, the year of covid we should have played the final of the North Wales Cup but it was never played and then I moved to Saint David’s College for sixth form and was offered a decent level of rugby. I was quite good academically and I wanted to do A levels in a school environment,” he said.
His celebrity status in north Wales hit new heights when he created a small slice of history by becoming St David’s first ever rugby international. He plays down the accolade and says the eight hour round trip from home to training at the National Centre of Excellence is worth the sacrifice.
“It is a big commitment coming down, it’s a long drive but from the start I haven’t felt like a stranger. I’ve played a lot of the boys in the Premiership so you kind of know a couple of them from there and everybody has been very welcoming,” he said.
Evans is no stranger to playing at Stadium CSM with RGC in the Welsh Premiership, but his first walk to the changing room alongside his Welsh U20 colleagues took him by surprise.
“The walk down from the bus wasn’t too bad but coming in I saw a massive poster of myself and I thought ‘oh no’ – the minute I walked into the changing room with the red jerseys hanging up I was like this is real now.
“We have our pictures on top of the pegs and that is when it starts to kick in that this is the real thing. You’re representing your country and you see the Irish boys in all green and I’m thinking ‘yeah, this is actually happening.”
Owain Evans is tackled by Gus McCarthy of Ireland on his Wales debut
The home crowd were firmly behind Evans on his debut and he says the occasion will live long in his memory.
“I knew a couple of mates were coming across but I didn’t expect so many people from my old club Caernarfon as well. The guys were saying I had the biggest cheer of the night – it was such an unreal experience hearing the fans screaming. I can’t thank everyone enough for the support.”
Now he has two caps next to his name, his next aim is to get a starting spot in the engine room, no easy task when the competition is so tough.
“The aim was to obviously get a cap and now it’s pushing to get a start for the rest of the campaign. To have two caps as much as it is under unfortunate circumstances every time I have come on, I’ve been very appreciative of the time I have had on the pitch,” he said.
He is hoping his all-court game may give him an edge when it comes to future selection.
“Because I’m not as tall as most other second rows, I’ve got a bit more to my game as in I’m a danger at the breakdown, I make my shots, and I think I am pretty consistent in everything I do. There aren’t many times where I have made a lot of mistakes. I get my roles right and know my jobs,” he says.
Playing in the Indigo Prem has also helped him develop as a player due to the physical demands of the league but tonight his full attention is on Wales U20 v England U20 where he is hoping the home fans come out in force once again.
“We felt the crowd behind us in the Ireland game so to have that backing again would be great. When we went up to Scotland it was a weird one going away as you can hear their fans singing the anthem and you instantly think the fans are against you but having that home crowd is really important especially when the game gets tough, and you’ve got that backing. I can’t wait.”
