“I’m excited to be working with Tigers now. This is a fresh start, and I think it was the best step for me now. We Welshies don’t like to travel much, so to be 5,000 miles away for the next stage of my career should qualify as being out of my comfort zone,” Evans said.

“I was at Dragons for 15 years and there were times I could have left, but it’s my home region. I was fortunate enough to go through the academy and to have had so many opportunities with Dragons.”

After a somewhat unplanned send off, Evans is cognisant of the unique circumstances facing the game both home and abroad during the pandemic. He would be the first to tell you his coaching philosophy prioritises a player and core rugby community approach.

“It’s been a frustrating time for players, especially the young guys. Guys in the academy or on the fringes haven’t played in 12 to 18 months, and are missing not only one of the most enjoyable times of their rugby career, but a crucial development period as well,” he said.

Tigers have uncovered some of the city’s finest local players, from Hong Kong’s first capped Chinese player Rambo Leung Yung-kit, to present day mainstays Salom Yiu Kam-shing, Cado Lee Ka-to and Eric Kwok Pun-nga, alongside numerous other national team representatives.

Evans is hoping to replicate the success he experienced at the Dragons academy for the pathway here, all whilst making the calls for the senior men’s team.

Though the men’s Premiership team have struggled in recent years, the women’s side emerged as a hands-down force in the city’s top league, winning the grand championship in 2018-19. Most exciting for Evans is the Tigers boys’ success at under-19 level, winning three grand championship titles from 2017 to 19.

“One of my particular remits is establishing a good academy and pathway structure, and we are already setting the foundations for that; a well-supported path for 7- and 8-year-olds right through to senior Premiership level is the model, as it should be,” said Evans, who played for Wales at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2008.

“One of the career memories I always share is running out to the South Stand singing “Sweet Caroline” which raises the hair on your neck. That year was a whirlwind, because I was also starting to figure with the Dragons; I was very focused but I remember Hong Kong being a fantastic city.”

Now in the city permanently, the former hard-nosed back-rower has called up old mates-turned-rivals, in fellow Welshmen Groves and Tom Isaacs – at Hong Kong Football Club – for the league lowdown.

“I have had the opportunity to bounce my ideas off the group, and get a better understanding of the club dynamics. I’ll walk before I run, and I want to understand our strengths better so we can build from them,” Evans said.

“As far as I’m concerned, I have a couple of seasons to continue developing the Tigers to be competitive and to win a championship and a league cup. I also want to facilitate the coach and player pathway, and when I leave, whether that is in two or five years or whatever, I aim to have that in place.”