GET TO KNOW ASHTON EVANS

Ashton Evans hails from Bridgend and played club rugby for Tondu before signing for Bridgend.

In 2018, Evans signed for ‘the Wizards’ and played his first game against Cornish Pirates in a friendly.

Ashton was educated in Maesteg Comprehensive School, Cardiff University and Loughborough University, and is currently working as a European Product Manager for a company called Invacare.

The natural number 8, but currently playing at 6, has produced some fine performances since breaking his jaw against Cardiff in 2020.

“I think my defence is probably the most pleasing part of my performances so far. It is something that we have been working hard on as a group with Swanky and I feel that it has been going well so far”, said Evans.

Chris Davies, Defence Coach, backed up the big mans views.

“What a defender! Ashton has the ability to make the right decisions at the contact area consistently. Always putting himself in a position to make a positive impact on that side of the game.

Ashton is far more of a rounded player than just considering his defensive qualities. He is continuously offering himself up as an attacking threat and is always involved in conversations around the way we are constructing the game”, commented Davies.

“I was probably performing my best just before COVID. I think that having a run of games and getting into a rhythm helps.

I am starting to feel that again now and hopefully can push on for the rest of the season”, added Ashton.

Evans is coming up to 29 years of age this month and is always learning.

“I learn from every member of the squad. There is now so much experience in the squad that the level of detail and teachings in every session means that there is always something to learn”, added Ashton.

Going back to his education and staying on the topic of learning, Ashton gained a 2:1 BA Sports Management Degree from Loughborough University and a distinction in his Masters of Business Administration from Cardiff University. Ashton previously has worked in marketing with the Welsh Rugby Union and at Swansea City Football Club.

“I think my defence is probably the most pleasing part of my performances so far. It is something that we have been working hard on as a group with Swanky”

But, maybe more interestingly to some, Ashtons hidden talent is reciting the alphabet backwards, very quickly.

Evans has played 53 times for the Aberavon scoring 9 tries.

Looking ahead, Evans is thinking very positively about the remaining Indigo Group Premiership Cup games.

“We have gone well so far and I think mathematically we have secured a play-off spot. It would be nice to finish strong and gain a home play-off game”.

Ashton records his best rugby moment winning the Welsh Youth Cup with his mates at Tondu. Conversely, a moment he wishes to go back to and change would be breaking his jaw against Cardiff the day before he was supposed to be flying to New York with his girlfriend.

He would want Ashton Kutcher to play himself in a movie because … the name works and the superhero he would like to be is Captain America because “he seems quite level headed, like me”.

Go to Snack: Dairy Milk

Favourite Aberavon Player: Joe Tomalin-Reeves

Aberavon Player to Watch: Jonny Phillips

Celebrity Crush: Jena Frumes

Favourite Movie: Forest Gump

Karaoke Song: We Did not Start the Fire by Billy Joel

You can follow Ashton on Twitter at @AshtonEvans8 or on Instagram at @AshTone8.