Evans Faces Tough Leeds Challenge
Whilst Corps colleague Greg Barden is enjoying the sun and the heat of George, South Africa with England Sevens, Navy Rugby’s Gaz Evans faces a tough, cold day, in Yorkshire on Sunday. Gaz has been named at hooker for club side Plymouth Albion as they travel to Leeds to face the league leaders. Gaz’s season continues to be as remarkable, in it’s own way, as the more reported exploits of Greg (Bristol & England Sevens) and Josh Drauniniu (Exeter Chiefs & England Sevens). Already this year he has helped the Royal Marines to finally achieve their goal of wrestling Navy Rugby’s Inter Command Inverdale Cup from the arms of the Fleet Air Arm, completed his Junior’s Course and been a regular in the Plymouth pack. More impressively he has played for Plymouth regularly at both Number 8 and hooker including a couple of man of the match performances. One of the most competitive players in the Navy squad, Gaz was extremely disappointed with his own performances at the end of last season which culminated in a yellow card and Sin Bin against the Army. However he has put all that behind him and this year is fitter and stronger than last season and his game has improved accordingly. When playing at 8 he has found a greater explosiveness from the base of the scrum, which adds to his natural ball carrying style whilst at hooker he has continued to improve his technical skills and improve his tight play. Commenting on his games this year Navy Rugby’s DoR said, “We didn’t see the best of Gaz last season for a number of reasons, not least how I tried to use him. However this year he has worked extremely hard with Beau Beauchamp and Mark Twigs on his conditioning and is really putting down a marker for the Navy Rugby season to come. He remains an absolute key member of the squad and brings a dynamic ball carrying aspect to the game like no other in the team. This year it is clear to see that he is also developing the weaker aspects of his game. I am sure that those who follow Navy Rugby again this year will be regularly talking about his charging runs from deep in the bar afterwards. He faces a huge challenge up in Leeds on the weekend and I am sure that Josh, Marsh and all of the Exeter Chiefs side will be (unusually) willing Albion on to take the points but for me I have no doubt that he will do well and am looking forward to him being back in the Navy Blue shirt when we take on Newbury in January.”