Biography
Ieuan Cennydd Evans MBE (born 21 March 1964) is a former rugby union player who played as a wing for Wales and the British and Irish Lions. Born in Pontarddulais, Wales, he started playing rugby at the age of 10 while attending Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. Later, as a student at Salford University, he joined Llanelli RFC, where he enjoyed significant success.
Evans earned a reputation as one of the greatest wingers in Welsh rugby history, ranking as the fourth-highest try scorer for Wales. Over his career, he captained the national team 28 times, a record at the time, before retiring from international rugby in 1998. After his playing career, he became a rugby pundit and businessman.
Teams Played For
- Carmarthen Quins RFC (Youth Team)
- Llanelli RFC (1980s–1997)
- Bath Rugby (1997–1998)
- Barbarian F.C.
- Hong Kong Football Club (2015, 2016 – Bali Memorial Game)
Rugby World Cups Played
- 1987 Rugby World Cup
- 1991 Rugby World Cup
- 1995 Rugby World Cup
Career Highlights
- First International Cap (1987) – Made his debut for Wales against France in Paris.
- Five Nations Championship Winner (1994) – Captained Wales to victory.
- British and Irish Lions Tours:
- 1989 Tour to Australia – Scored the decisive series-winning try in the third Test.
- 1993 Tour to New Zealand – Top try scorer for the Lions with four tries.
- 1997 Tour to South Africa – Played a crucial role in the series.
- Club Success with Llanelli RFC – Won five out of seven Welsh Cup finals.
- Heineken Cup Winner (1998) – Won the European title with Bath.
- Retirement (1998) – Retired from international rugby and transitioned into business and media.
- Hall of Fame Inductions:
- Inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame (2007).
- Inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame (2014).
Personal Life
Evans was awarded an MBE (1996) for his contributions to rugby. After retiring, he founded a PR and marketing company and became a respected rugby analyst, working with BBC, ITV, and Sky Sports.
He has three children: Lili (born 1997), Cai (born 1999), and Tirion (born 2001). His son, Cai Evans, is a professional rugby player for Wales.
Evans has been involved in various charities, particularly Help for Heroes and Velindre Cancer Centre. In 2010, he participated in the ‘Captains Climb’ challenge, where 15 former Welsh rugby captains climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, raising significant funds for cancer research.
In September 2020, Evans was elected to the Welsh Rugby Union’s National Council, later becoming chairman in November 2022, before resigning in July 2023.