Union Commute

First five-eighth and fullback Aucklander Nick Evans has signed a three-year contract with English side the Harlequins for the 2008-2009 Guinness Premiership season. Considered the high-quality understudy to Daniel Carter, Evans is one of many New Zealand players leaving for spells in the UK. The New Zealand Rugby Union is considering tailor-made contracts to allow players to skip overseas – in Carter’s case to Toulon in France – and collect mega-bucks in short bursts of a few months. It is an arrangement pioneered by Tana Umaga, who commuted between Toulon and Wellington last season. Chief executive of the Crusaders Hamish Riach said: “They are flexible contracts which would make it easier for guys to have their cake and eat it.”