With Adrian Jarvis quoted as saying he wanted to move to a traditional club in the heart of the community, he will be playing his home games in Newport next season while Evans who said he wanted to come to a club with a great history will be playing his home games in London.

He is quick and deceptively strong, he's a fine place kicker and he has a powerful right boot and his tactical kicking is excellent. In the 2007 RWC his kicking success rate was 90.9%. He is also an accomplished full back. With Evans' right boot and Brown's left boot we will have two kickers that have a very long kicking game.

The NZRU were loathe to let him leave and tried to match the offer from Harlequins (which was apparently less than that offered by Leicester, Northampton, Newport Gwent Dragons and Ulster) but Evans apparently made his decision due to wanting a change in lifestyle, Evans said "It never came down to margins and things like that. It was just about the lifestyle choice and what I wanted to do."

With the All Blacks sticking by their decision to only select players who are based in New Zealand, Evans' move suggests that he would be unlikely to be selected for the 2011 home world cup. With Carter reported to be signing for a French team it would have meant that Evans would be first choice for the 10 jersey which makes him move quite surprising.

But Evans didn't let Carter's decision to influence his, saying, "I can't live my life waiting to see what another guy does. Making the All Blacks or not will not impact on my decision. The longer I push it out the worse it will be. I would rather make a decision on my future - whether it is in New Zealand or overseas - I would rather get it done and get it behind me. It is difficult, it is your life but it does not churn me up, I don't think it affects my rugby. I have been around long enough for it not to get to me. It might be harder for younger guys. It comes down to putting things on a positive and negative chart. I am 28 this year, 31 at the next World Cup you know I have to take all those things into consideration. I enjoy playing rugby in New Zealand so it is hard to weigh it up against something which is foreign. It is a tough decision but I have to put a decision on it and that is sooner rather than later."

He added "Rugby allows me to go over there and see a bit of the world and experience the things that a lot of my mates have been doing so I thought it was a great opportunity for me to go over and do that. I really think I'd be a fool if I don't take this opportunity".

Neil Sorensen (NZRU's general manager) who tried to persuade Evans to remain in New Zealand said "Nick is an incredibly talented player and we were definitely keen to keep him playing here in New Zealand. While we are disappointed to lose a player and person of his calibre, we respect his decision".

Evans said "They [NZRU] definitely put some offers on the table and we went through and talked about some possibilities of staying, it really just came down to me putting a positive and negative column up at home and ticking the boxes and working out what was best for me. I based the decision on what was going to be best for me and what was a good time for me to go. I had a chat to him [Graham Henry] a while ago and obviously he wanted me to stay and I took on board what he was saying, but in the end it was my decision"

He continued "I've made a three year commitment to put my full effort in over there. I don't think I'll coming back for the World Cup in 2011 but never say never, things might happen and I might end up coming back".

Director of rugby Dean Richards said: "I am delighted that Nick has decided to join Harlequins, he is a highly skilled and versatile player with a wealth of experience of playing top level rugby. Nick will be a valuable asset to our side and I looking forward to working with him next season".

Evans should be joining at the end of the Air New Zealand Cup (the current name of the NPC), the final game of which is the 5th October 2008. He also is hoping to continue to be selected for the All Blacks until that time which means he could be playing against England and Ireland in the Inveco Series and then in the Tri-nations.

So with Danny Care at 9, Evans at 10 and Tiesi adding to our list of centres our mid field looks as good as it has been for a good while.

With Seb Jewell likely to have re-signed too it will give the Academy youngster a great mentor for the next couple of seasons and will hopefully bring him on the be his replacement when the time comes. And with rumours of Vickerman and Taione joining the squad too next season's squad is starting to look rather good.

Most of the southern hemisphere imports that we have signed over the past few years have mentioned that the intensity of matches in the Premiership and Heiniken Cup is higher than in the Super 14, so here's hoping Nick Evans settles into the way we play up here quickly.

So welcome to the club Nick, we hope you have a enjoyable and successful time here.

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