COREY EVANS

Originally from Waipapakauri  in Northland, Corey Evans is a mid-fielder who attended Auckland Grammar School.  

Corey was a part of the 2021 New Zealand Under 20s side as well as the Auckland squad, making his debut in the same year. Evans earned recognition as the Blues Development Player of the Year for 2021. 

Corey is a natural ball player with impressive speed and strength and is equally capable of covering multiple positions in the backline, including first five-eighth and fullback. 

After making his Blues debut in 2022, Evans had a strong campaign for Auckland in the 2022 Bunnings NPC. He filled in at centre off the bench in the Blues 2023 season and made a strong contribution on and off the field at Blues HQ. His story of coming back from three ACL knee injuries speaks to his resilience as an athlete and is an inspiration to youths who attend the Blues Charitable Trust leadership programme.     

Along with resilience, Evans’ versatility came to the fore in the 2023 Auckland season with the utility playing almost every position in the backline and doing so with distinction.  

Evans continued to be a safe pair of hands for the Blues in their 2024 championship season. He received a Player of the Match award on the pre-season tour to Japan and made seven appearances for the Blues throughout the season, scoring an intercept try against the Force in Round Seven at Eden Park.  

Corey was noticed by the Māori All Blacks selectors and returned to Japan for the Māori All Blacks tour following the Super season. In a bid to get more consistent game time, Evans elected to go back to his roots and return home to Northland for the 2024 Bunnings NPC. He’s back with the Blues for the 2025 season and will be pushing for more regular game time in a talent-laden backline. 

Corey is contracted with the Blues through until the end of the 2026 season.