Nick Evans appreciates the irony but says he never factored Dan Carter into his decision to take up a big-money three-season deal with Harlequins in the English Premiership.

The Blues playmaker on Monday confirmed he would join the London club once his commitments with New Zealand rugby finish this year in a contract that will take him through to the end of June 2011.

The irony comes in the fact that after spending four years waiting patiently for playing opportunities at test level behind Carter, Evans departs for the UK at the same time that Carter is said to be heading for a rich short-term deal to play for either Toulouse or Toulon in France.

Evans will earn somewhere in the region of $2 million for his two and a-half years with Quins in London, though it has been speculated that Carter could haul in as much as that for a single year in France.

Carter continues to bat away queries on his future, saying Monday from Christchurch, where he returned to the training field with the Crusaders, that he was "still in the process of exploring all the options". But he did add he would be "doing what is best for myself" which tends to indicate he'll take the truckloads of cash on offer.

Whatever, Evans remained adamant the whims of his national team-mate and positional rival never entered his own decision-making process which the 27-year-old Blues playmaker confirmed took the form of a pros and cons list.

"I don't know what he's doing to be honest," said Evans. "It never really came into my mind or factored into any of my decisions. I made a decision based on what's going to be best for me and what was a good time for me to go."

But Evans, who has been switched to fullback by the Blues over the past fortnight as they bid to keep an unlikely run at the Super 14 finals, conceded Carter's had been a big shadow to play under since making his test debut back in 2004. He has appeared in just 16 tests over that time.

"I blame my mum for that, having me just when he came around," said Evans, with a grin. "It's tough when you're up against the best in the world. But I'm really proud of what I've achieved in New Zealand, especially being behind a class player like Dan.

"He's a top bloke and the best in the world and you can't take that away from him. I think I've done pretty well. I did the best I can for a skinny white guy, as my mates say."

Asked how hard the New Zealand Rugby Union tried to keep him in the country, Evans made it clear they couldn't match the offer from the Quins, which was the best of a handful he had on the table.

"They definitely put some offers on the table and we went through and talked about some possibilities of staying. [But] it really just came down to me putting a positives and negatives column up at home and ticking the boxes and working out what was best for me."

And the score? "It was pretty close," said the would-be mighty Quin.

Evans also said he'd spoken to All Blacks coach Graham Henry who had made it clear that he wanted him to stay. "I took on board what he had to say but in the end it was my decision.

"It basically came down to what I thought was best for me, at 28, where I was, how my rugby was, and what I wanted to do with going overseas. Rugby allows me to do that, see a bit of the world, experience things a lot of my mates have been doing.

"It's a great opportunity to go over there and I'd probably be a fool if didn't take it."

Evans is contracted to New Zealand rugby through until the end of the 2008 season, though he admits the early announcement of his departure could harm his prospects of All Blacks selection for the upcoming programme.

"I sat down and thought about that for a while. But for myself I just wanted to get it done, out of the way, and it's up to the selectors to make those decisions. I didn't want to hide it and spring it later on for my own benefit."

He also shrugged off suggestions he could be available for the 2011 World Cup back in New Zealand, saying the period of his Quins contract just happened to end on June 31 of Cup year..

With Evans gone and Carter thought to be the next best thing, it will be interesting to see what the All Black selectors decide to do for the upcoming season. Canterbury's Stephen Brett and Waikato's Stephen Donald are considered the next cabs off the rank at first five and with no Junior ABs programme this year, it could be that they look to get one or both into the test mix.

Evans said it's possible he could leave earlier, depending on what the All Blacks selectors wanted, but did say: "I'd love to stay here and see out my New Zealand contract right to the end."

The former Otago and North Harbour provincial star also said he would leave the New Zealand game with his head held high when it came to his achievements in the game.

"The All Blacks jersey has always been my dream and I've never taken it for granted. It's why I'm very proud of what I've achieved in New Zealand rugby... I would have loved to have played more but it's been a dream come true to wear the All Black jersey."

Evans also shrugged off suggestions that he, and in the bigger picture Carter, would leave holes that New Zealand rugby would struggle to fill.

"This happened when Mehrts and Carlos went overseas, and it wasn't long before Dan Carter, the best in the world, stepped up and took their position. There's some outstanding talent in this country."

Evans made his All Blacks debut against England in Dunedin in 2004 and notched 103 points in his 16 tests. He also played for the New Zealand sevens team in 2002, and the inaugural Junior All Blacks in 2005.

At Super 14 level Evans played 32 games for the Highlanders and 10 times for the Blues this season, while he has appeared for North Harbour and Otago on the provincial scene.

Meanwhile Blues coach David Nucifora said the Evans announcement would have no impact on the Blues as they battle to keep their semifinal hopes alive over the next fortnight.

"We're used to it," he said. "It doesn't really have an affect on the team at all. The team just rolls forward. What we are worried about is the next couple of weeks.

"Nick is 27 or 28 years of age, players make calls these days on what is best for their future. Nick has made that decision and good luck to him. We wish him all the best."

In terms of the impact Evans' departure would have on the New Zealand game, the Blues coach added: "When you lose any player of that standard it is a great loss. So you have to keep working on your development programmes to keep trying to fill the possibility of these things happening."