Long-time Canadian international Matt Evans has confirmed his retirement from the sport at the age of 32. The Cornish Pirates winger will move upstairs from the playing roster with immediate effect having been appointed Team Manager of the RFU Championship club.
A gifted footballer who started tests in five different positions, he debuted as a replacement against Ireland in 2008. Evans would collect 40 caps over the next decade. His final appearance for Canada came in the World Cup Repechage match against Germany in 2018, appropriately scoring his 12th test try.
Perhaps his finest performances in a Canadian jersey came during the 2015 World Cup. The long-range breakaway score against Italy made tournament highlight reels worldwide. Sadly his career was blighted with injury that saw him miss out on several matches including the entirety of the 2014 and 2017 seasons.
Born in England, Evans moved to Canada at the age of 12. He would play nearly all of his professional rugby in the English second division with the Pirates. Evans signed his first contract with Newport Gwent Dragons in 2010, but moved to Penzance a year later.