Nerveless Heroics by Jarrod Evans Guides Wales to Priceless Triumph

Sunday, 16 November 2025 at 12:35

byHarry Tovey

Test match rugby turns on moments, and Jarrod Evans delivered the moment of the year for Welsh rugby on Saturday evening against Japan.

His late strike with the clock in the red spared his side from another low. Dan Biggar, on his way out of Principality Stadium, shouted joyously over to Evans in the mixed media zone,

“extra zero on your contract now.”

Whilst Wales wing Tom Rogers shouted over “ice in your veins”, everyone just seemed relieved that the 10-match home losing streak was over.

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However, if it wasn't for the smartness of Matt Sherratt in the Six Nations to bring back the 29-year-old to the national setup, then that special moment wouldn’t have had the same feeling.

It simply couldn’t have happened to a more deserving player, to have his greatest highlight of his international career.

Evans, who last played for Wales before this year's Six Nations, was back in 2021. Both Wayne Pivac and Warren Gatland overlooked him during that time.

But in the aftermath of the defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield back in March, he admitted that he never thought a Wales return was going to happen.

“I never thought I’d be back on the international stage again,” insisted Evans, who was called up by interim head coach Sherratt during that torrid Championship for Wales.

So, I asked him the same question on whether he thought he would have an international moment like this, he said: “With the ruling, being in England, well, no, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be back.

"It’s about playing well for your club. I was just fortunate to come in during the Six Nations. I’ve got a good relationship with a couple of the coaches, worked under them previously.

“I’ve really enjoyed the environment we’ve been in, the coaches have been brilliant.”

Under the Professional Rugby Board’s law on the 25-cap ruling, it states that a player can remain eligible for Wales if they are not offered a regional side contract or have been offered a new contract at a lower value.

So for the Harlequins’ player, this was his way back to playing for Wales. And my word does he deserve it, because if Wales were still under the old permanent regime, then Evans would still be pushed to the side or not thought of.

But after being at the Principality Stadium for only a small time, in place of Dan Edwards, he calmly brought some joy back to Welsh Rugby.

Were the post-match celebrations a little bit over the top? The simple answer is yes, but with so much at stake, it was justified.

The win ensured Wales’ spot in the top 12 in the world rankings ahead of next month’s 2027 World Cup draw. No wonder the scenes were so partisan after the narrow 24-23 win.

Evans has played the hero before in the not-too-distant past. He claimed the spoils at the death against Leinster back in 2022, and also did so in Galway eight years ago against Connacht.

“I’ve experienced it for my club, but it’s the first time that I have done it for my country,” said Evans.

“I was pretty relieved that it went over, but that’s why you put all those hours and hard work in.

“The longer the time goes on, the more you think that you might not get on, but you have to be ready to impact the game.

“I am just the guy that is fortunate to get that moment at the end, but I was more proud with how we worked our way up the field.

“We retained the ball and didn’t cough it up, which we probably did for large parts of the game to give Japan a leg up.”

The emotion was so evident for Tandy and his side, but in all honesty, don't expect the same celebrations next Saturday when a bruised New Zealand come to the Welsh capital. Surely, they can't do the unthinkable next week against the All Blacks; if so, then the wild celebrations from Saturday evening will be times a thousand.