Farewell to a legend

Yesterday it was announced that All Black and Harlequins fly half Nick Evans, 36, one of the most gifted rugby union exponents it has been my pleasure ever to set eyes upon, was to retire at the end of this season.

There’s plenty that I could have mentioned in a piece to salute this outstanding player but – better than that – I can think of no more appropriate tribute that to provide a link for Rust readers in order to let his gifts speak for themselves.

I was at my usual seat – mind you, on my feet – in the West Stand at the Stoop on the night of 13th December 2008, the occasion being the return match against the Parisian French side Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup after, against the odds, Quins had won the reverse fixture seven days previously. Following a ding-dong, even-stevens, battle in terrible conditions, with the visitors just ahead on the scoreboard and the clock about to go into ‘overtime’, Quins strove to make one last effort for victory.

And then this happened, footage courtesy of YouTube – STADE FRANCAIS GAME