Despite currently nursing an injury, life for North Wales Crusaders’ Ben Evans hasn’t slowed down.
The Welsh international and former Warrington Wolves prop now has one eye on life beyond rugby, and balances his role at Crusaders with the management of his own insurance business catering for other players and businesses throughout the country.
Born in Bridgend, Evans’ career in the game began in the top-flight where he progressed through the Warrington Wolves’ youth systems alongside his brother, Rhys.
Making over 40 Super League appearances between spells at Warrington and Bradford, Evans went on to carve a successful career in the Championship featuring for London, Toulouse and Barrow alongside a second spell with Bradford.
During this time, Evans also established himself as a familiar name on the international scene, representing Wales at both the World Cup and European Championships in addition to making the Wales 9’s squad for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.
2024 saw Evans make the move to League One, linking up with close friend Carl Forster at North Wales Crusaders, a move which aligned with a new career path off the field as he took the plunge in setting up his own business.
With performances on the pitch continuing to shine, Evans’ career off it has also blossomed as he now heads up a team of advisors whilst also helping other athletes like himself prepare for a career after sport.
Speaking to nwcrusadersrl.com, Evans said: “I’ve had an amazing career, and to have done everything from coming through the Super League academy setup at Warrington alongside my brother to representing my country on some of the biggest stages, I’ve got some amazing memories and friendships which will stay with me for my whole life.
“At a point where you’ve been in a full-time sporting environment and you have the drop down to part-time, I think there’s always a bit of a crossroads of what you want to do and finding that right balance.
“For me, I threw myself into working, but I knew that between that and rugby it just wasn’t giving me the time with my family which I wanted, so I had a bit of a re-think.
“That saw me leave Barrow and come to North Wales so that I was closer to home, but I also wanted a change in career so I setup my own insurance business and began the training for that.
“I’ve found it really rewarding, I’m helping athletes, businesses and just general people in making sure they’ve got the protection which they need, and it’s given me a fantastic work life balance.
“In the space of 12 months I’ve gone from just me to being able to have a team of current and ex-players all coming on the same journey which I’ve been on, and together we’re really growing.
“It feels like a very similar environment to that within rugby, and I definitely think that the skills I’ve learnt in my playing career have transferred into what I’m now doing away from it too.
“The biggest success from what I’ve achieved up to now is having more time with my family, and finding that balance between life, rugby and work.”
Having made a strong impression during his debut season with Crusaders last year, Evans was handed a new one-year-deal by head coach Carl Forster, and whilst an injury sustained away to Goole Vikings earlier in the season has seen him sidelined up to now, he’s hopeful of a return come the back end of the season: “I’ve loved my time at the club, he said.
“There’s a brilliant group of lads here, and Foz [Carl Forster] and the rest of the coaching team are doing a brilliant job.
“Being injured when the team is flying at the top of the league can be tough, but I’m also really proud of the group we’ve got here and excited for what we can achieve.
“For me, the aim to get back into contention towards the back end of the season and hopefully help play my part in getting this side to the league title.”
You can catch North Wales Crusaders in action on Sunday 6th July when Carl Forster’s league leaders welcome second placed Workington Town to Stadiwm CSM, buy your tickets HERE