He followed his brother, Hagen, into the Llanelli side, although never got the chance to play with him before he turned professional with Bradford Northern. Hagen went on to play for Hull and Wales in the 13-a-side code.
Peter, meanwhile, made 66 appearances for the Scarlets after joining the club from Furnace United. He was in the side that played against the 1951 Springboks and then captained his home town team against the 1953 All Blacks.
He was captain of the club in 1953-54 and 1954-55 seasons when they won 58 and drew four of their 84 matches. In his second season in charge Llanelli won 21 and drew two of their 24 home matches, losing only to Cardiff.
He made his Wales debut (Cap No 573) in the 23-5 win over England at St Helen’s, Swansea, at the age of 22 when he deputised for the injured Allen Forward. He was the only new cap in a side that rattle up Wales’ fifth successive victory in the wake of their Grand Slam campaign in 1950.
But two weeks later he was replaced by he fit again Forward for the trip to Edinburgh to face Scotland. It proved a good game to miss as Wales were beaten 19-0 in a game that has become known as the ‘Murrayfield Massacre’.
That defeat led to wholesale changes in the Welsh side and there were four more after a 3-3 home draw with Ireland in the following fixture. Evans was one of the four players drafted in for the game against the French at Stade Colombes, but this time there was to be no victory for the Llanelli forward as the home side won 8-3.
Born in Llanelli on 20 June, 1928, Peter Denzil Evans attended St Michael’s School. He emigrated to New Zealand to run his own business, but returned later in life to live in his home town – in New Zealand Street!
He is survived by his wife, Mair. The WRU would like to offer its condolences to both her and the rest of his family and friends.
