Harlequins flanker Will Evans has revealed he was apprehensive ahead of his return from injury against London Irish on Friday night following ‘11 months of hell’. 

Evans played thirty minutes for Quins at the Community Stadium as they lost 34-19 in pool three of the Premiership Rugby Cup.

It marked his return from eleven months out after fracturing a tibia in April 2021 against the Exiles and Evans said he enjoyed his return to action despite defeat. 

“Today was probably the most nervous I’ve been for a very long time,” said Evans. 

“But I was playing with some real good friends out there who made me calm and just a really enjoyable day although the scoresheet probably wouldn’t suggest so but I thoroughly enjoyed it and I thought at times we played really well.” 

Evans was replaced after 30 minutes, but enjoyed his time back on the pitch in a fairly even first-half that saw London Irish go in 17-12 ahead at the break.

And the 25-year-old said his body felt good after his return. 

He added: “Me and Nick David came off after 30 but I feel really good, it was really nice being out there to be honest. It was quite emotional but yeah I really enjoyed it. 

“I knew I only had 30 minutes so I was just trying to put my body on the line for as long as I possibly could without getting too tired.  

“Lungs felt alright to be fair, game for the first 30 was a little bit stop-start, think we scored some really good tries and we can be happy with our efforts.” 

Despite defeat meaning Quins can no longer qualify for the semi-finals of the Premiership Rugby Cup, Evans took heart from his side’s performance against a London Irish side that contained a number of regular starters. 

He said: “Having seen the team beforehand yesterday, they clearly picked a strong side and for forty minutes bar the try that they scored right at the end of the first half I thought we dug in so nicely.  

“The boys can be happy with it, second half was a bit ropey but through no fault of the lads’ efforts. Thought it was really, really positive.” 

For Evans, the hope is that he can now get more regular minutes for Quins as they approach the end of season run-in as they currently sit third in the Gallagher Premiership. 

The Twickenham-based club have a week off this weekend and flanker Evans is looking forward to resting up and reflecting on a tough 11 months out. 

“I’ll do as much as possible to put my hand up in training,” he added.  

“We all have a week off now which is really nice just to rest, recuperate, reflect on a really long period off for me personally, have a couple of beers, raise a glass to the eleven months of hell and then we’ll go into Sale and try and smash that.”