World Footy News

It may currently surprise some in the international footy scene that an internationally developed Australian Football player is participating in the Rugby World Cup in France right now! And he credits Aussie Rules for helping develop the skills that got him there. Also helping the Kiwis with their line-outs (throw ins from the sideline where players boost each other into the air to try to gain possession) is a former VFL/AFL ruckman who experienced both codes, and Rugby League, in the diverse Sydney sporting scene.

Nick Evans, a utility back for the All Blacks was a member of the NZ Falcon’s first junior Australian Football tour to Melbourne in 2000. He was an outstanding talent who trained with the AIS squad in 1998 and also had a week’s one-on-one training with the Oakleigh Chargers’ Coach. Brisbane Lions Recruiting Manager Kinnear Beatson was very keen on having a look at Nick after attending the AIS camp in Melbourne. He was also reportedly offered a trial by the Sydney Swans, but ultimately chose the Kiwi national code of rugby.

Nick came to the sport through NZAFL school development programmes, along with current NZ captain and Auckland National Provincial Championships coach Andrew Congalton, exciting NZ Falcons full forward Craig Ashton and Takapuna Vice President and current Auckland representative footballer Andrew Lydiard.

Evans played quite a few seasons for the Takapuna Club in the AAFL and this is occasionally evident still in his high leaping to take a long bomb in rugby or with his overhead intercepts from a kick when he secures the ball on the burst and still keeps running. He's also credited his kicking skills to Aussie Rules and the chance to improve their abilities and follow in such footsteps must surely be a good lure to rugby players.

To read more about this talented player, mainly from a rugby perspective, try All Black almost a Swan and Evans' 50/50 path to the World Cup. Evans' footy background also got a mention in a similar article on an Irish rugby website, see story In the shadow of Dan, so it has all been good exposure for Aussie Rules.

New Zealand's line outs have also had some Aussie assistance, with former Melbourne, Hawthorn and Sydney ruckman Mick Byrne working with them on aspects such as "staying strong in the air" and climbing higher to get the ball, similar to high marking in Australian Football. Read more about it in ABs kicking coach takes on the lineouts.