By Haydn Evans
WELSHMAN Craig Evans is set to officiate in the Six Nations for the first time in Round Three when Italy take on Ireland in Rome.
With two-time World Cup Final referee Nigel Owens hanging up his whistle from the international game in the Autumn, a new generation of Welsh officials has emerged with Evans and fellow countryman Adam Jones among some of World Rugby’s best upcoming officials.
Evans joined the WRU’s professional officiating ranks in 2015 after already having refereed in the LV Cup and Indigo Welsh Premiership where he is extremely high thought of. The West Walian has also picked up some international officiating experience on the HSBC World 7s Circuit, refereeing the Cup Final in his debut tournament in Dubai in 2016.
The 29-year-old has also refereed in the Guinness Pro 14 and was the man in the middle for the Welsh derby clash between the Scarlets and the Blues last month in which Liam Williams received a red card for leading with the head, the incident that meant Williams was unavailable to Wales in their victory over Ireland in the opening round of this years Six Nations.
He also assisted Nigel Owens in last season Champions Cup final between Parisian club Racing 92 and English Champions Exeter Chiefs in Marseille.
Glynneath born Evans has already praised highly on social media with rugby journalist Paul Williams writing “Craig Evans is a very good referee… Big fan of his”. And former Argus chief rugby writer Robin Davey writing “For the second week running a new young Welsh referee makes his mark, this time Craig Evans, calm and authoritative”.
After his Six Nations debut this weekend, he will also be on the officiating team for what many people thought may be a grand-slam decider before this weekend when England host France at Twickenham in round 4.