WELLINGTON (AFP) - Utility back Nick Evans is joining the exodus of All Blacks to Europe after signing a contract to play with English club Harlequins, the New Zealand Rugby Union said Monday.
Evans, who plays at flyhalf and fullback for the Auckland Blues Super 14 team, will leave New Zealand after the domestic season to join Harlequins until the middle of 2011, it said.
The 27-year-old admitted his decision probably meant he would not be able to play in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand but said he believed he would have regretted turning down the offer.
"If I looked back I think I would be a fool if I didn't take this opportunity."
He told reporters the New Zealand union had come up with an offer pretty close to the Harlequins offer but added his decision was not just about money.
"It never came down to margins and things like that. It was just about the lifestyle choice and what I wanted to do."
The New Zealand union's general manager of professional rugby, Neil Sorensen said talks had been held with Evans since January in a bid to persuade the "incredibly talented" player to remain in New Zealand.
"While we are disappointed to lose a player and person of his calibre, we respect his decision and want to acknowledge his contribution to New Zealand rugby, and we wish him well over there," Sorensen said.
Evans has played 16 Tests for the All Blacks since his debut in 2004, scoring 103 points.
He has been in the shadow of star flyhalf Dan Carter and Mils Muliaina and Leon MacDonald have generally been preferred at fullback.
But with talk that Carter may take up a European contract, Evans would have been the leading contender to take his place.
A sizeable contingent of All Blacks have already signed for European clubs since last year's World Cup failure and there is talk several more will be lured by the big money on offer.
The union is sticking by its policy of picking only New Zealand-based players for the All Blacks, saying the lure of the black jersey is the only thing stopping the outflow of players turning into a flood.
