Rugby Prodigy from London Broncos Academy Shines in Australia
Earlier this month, James Evans, a highly-rated winger who came through the London Broncos’ youth development system, celebrated his 19th birthday. Now, the young talent is making waves as he plays for tier 3 side Brothers Cairns in Australia, with dreams of one day becoming a Super League star.
Evans, a boyhood Broncos fan whose father David played for the club, moved to Australia to join the Brothers Cairns club for the 2024 campaign. The club, which is a feeder side to the Queensland Cup outfit Northern Pride and North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL, has been guided by former York player Tim Rumford to back-to-back premierships.
“James only recently turned 19 but has become an integral part of our push for a third straight premiership,” Rumford said. “He’s a player who, in a good full-time system, would have every chance of making the grade in Super League.”
Proving to be a key figure on the wing, Evans has already scored 13 tries in 11 games, making him the competition’s top scorer. This impressive performance has caught the attention of rugby league enthusiasts, with Rumford praising Evans’ skills and potential.
Evans’ journey to Australia was facilitated by his former head of youth and coach at the London Broncos, Chris Baxter, who recommended him to Rumford at Brothers Cairns. The move has provided Evans with the opportunity to showcase his talents and potentially earn a contract with an English club when he returns home in September to begin a degree in Geography at Leeds Beckett University.
The decision to cease the Elite Academy at the London Broncos at the end of last season was a blow to the club’s development system, which has produced several notable players, including Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Tony Clubb, Dan Sarginson, Kieran Dixon, and current England internationals Mike McMeeken and Kai Pearce-Paul.
Evans, who previously played union for London Irish’s academy, is determined to use his time in Australia to further develop his skills and ultimately fulfill his dream of playing in the Super League. With his impressive performances for Brothers Cairns, he is certainly making a strong case for himself.
As the rugby league community keeps a close eye on Evans’ progress, the young winger’s story serves as a testament to the talent and potential that exists within the London Broncos’ youth development system, despite the recent challenges faced by the club.
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