Quins could get Evans early

Nick Evans could leave New Zealand for Harlequins before the end of the year after his omission from the national squad.

Evans, who has signed a deal with the Guinness Premiership side until 2011, was left out of coach Graham Henry's 25-man squad and could now exercise a clause in his NZRU contract that will allow him to leave his homeland.

The 27-year-old Blues back, who can play fly-half or full-back, revealed he discovered his fate via a voice message left on his phone.

He told Radio Sport: "It was gutting, no-one likes to get a message like that, but that's the way it was."

Evans added: "I've got a clause in my contract where I can exercise the right to head up earlier if I choose to. I will go through the process of working out what's best for me.

"Overall it's really sad and I'm disappointed that I didn't make the squad but in the long run it could be beneficial for me.

"It gives me time to freshen up and allows me to get rid of all the little niggles that I have and then I can head up there when the time's right and get into it."