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Historical records matching David Alexander (Dave) Evans
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About David Alexander (Dave) Evans
David Evans, an All Black forward on the 1910 tour of Australia, was one of the players who became symbolic figures in the enormous struggle which took place in the years leading up to World War I between rugby and the challenging code of league.
Evans was one of the many high profile players of the time who switched to league, an indication with some of the deep resentment in New Zealand at the time over the way rugby was then run by the autocratic Rugby Football Union of England. There was resentment not only with the way amateurism regulations were enforced which discriminated against working class players but also with some of the slavish adherence to more pedantic playing laws.
As the career of Evans illustrated, league may well have gained an even greater foothold in New Zealand but for its progress being halted by the outbreak of the war in 1914.
Evans was a strong powerful forward from Hawke's Bay who represented that union in 19 matches from 1906. A wing forward or lock in the old 2-3-3 scrum formation, Evans was said to be a forerunner for the legendary Hawke's Bay player of the 1920s, Maurice Brownlie.
He made the All Blacks for the tour of Australia in 1910 as one of the replacements for a number of original selections who withdrew on the eve of departure. Only the third All Black from the Bay, he played in four matches, his first three appearances being as a wing forward but for the second test he was included as a lock. In the 21-3 win over Queensland Evans scored one of the tries.
Evans' one test cap may well have been due to the congested programme. All three tests were played within a week and the second test was staged just 48 hours after the first. Inevitably some of the players who appeared on the Saturday were nursing injuries which prevented them backing up for the Monday match.
Harold Paton, who was at lock in every other match, was one of the players so affected and Evans became his replacement. For the third and final test Paton had recovered and Evans was back on the sideline. Also, the second test, in which Evans appeared, was lost 11-0, which may have been another reason for his quick departure from the main XV.
That was the last time Evans was seen in the All Black jersey. In Australia he had been impressed by the new league code and the following year he was instrumental in helping persuade three Hawke's Bay clubs, Clive, Ahuriri and Kia Toa to switch en masse to league. League, with the backing of Napier local body leader, and later mayor James Vigor Brown, was then on a roll and another early inroad into the dominant position of rugby was for league to have first use of the ground which eventually developed into the headquarters of Bay rugby, Napier's McLean Park.
In league Evans also gained national honours in 1911-12. But his son, Eric, became a rugby player, perhaps because after the early flurry league waned in the Hawke's Bay, and he too, represented the Bay in 1934.
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David Alexander (Dave) Evans's Timeline
| 1886 |
October 4, 1886
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Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
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| 1908 |
September 2, 1908
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New Zealand
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| 1910 |
January 27, 1910
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Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
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| 1911 |
July 5, 1911
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| 1913 |
1913
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Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
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| 1940 |
October 12, 1940
Age 54
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Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand
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| ???? |
Old Napier Cemetery, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
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