Yesterday, he began his full-time rugby education.
Evans (22), the Otago loose forward, was yesterday named in the Highlanders 2014 squad, one of 10 new faces in the side.
The Hawkes Bay product has had a stand-out year for Otago and though he was signed with the Highlanders at the start of this month, it was now sinking in he was about to become a professional player.
''It's awesome. I've always dreamed of playing Super rugby, ever since I was a kid,'' Evans said yesterday.
''I came down here to study and now I've finished my degree I can focus on being a full-time rugby player.''
Evans will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in environmental management and has his final exam on Tuesday.
He said Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph had talked to him at the start of the Otago season about what he had to do to get better and come into the contention to play for the Highlanders.
''He just talked about accuracy in everything I did and staying involved for the whole game. He did not want to have players who did something big and then not do another thing. He wanted players who had a strong work rate throughout the game.''
Evans believed he did that and now would join fellow Otago loose forward TJ Ioane in the Highlanders.
Evans will head home to Hawkes Bay tomorrow to catch up with family and there is the possibility of a trip overseas for a brief reunion with his brothers Bryn and Rhys.
Bryn, a former All Black, is playing rugby for London Irish, while Rhys is a winemaker in upstate New York.
After that excursion, Evans will be back with the Highlanders in the pre-season and looking to make his claims for next season.
''I just have to make the most of any opportunity which comes along in the pre-season and work hard.''
He said specialising at blindside flanker this season for Otago helped him get into the Highlanders.
