Thom Evans

Who Is Thom Evans?

Thom Evans is a Scottish former international rugby union player and model. He last played on the wing for Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic League. Evans’s rugby career ended at age 24 on his tenth appearance for Scotland when he suffered a serious neck injury.

Following his retirement from rugby, Evans turned to broadcasting, modelling, and reality television. He appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls, and later competed in The X Factor: Celebrity as part of the vocal group Try Star.

Today, he is perhaps equally well known as the fiancé of international superstar Nicole Scherzinger. Evans stood by her side as she took home the Best Actress in a Musical trophy at the 2025 Tony Awards.

Early Life: Born in Zimbabwe, Raised for Greatness

A Sporting Family From the Start

Thom Evans was born in Zimbabwe on April 2, 1985. His father, Brian Evans, was a professional golfer. His mother, Sally Evans, was the 100-metre provincial champion for Durban Province. His brother Max Evans, like Thom, played rugby.

Sport ran through the Evans household like a current. It was not just an activity. It was a language the whole family spoke.

He was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1985, and grew up in England, where he began his career in professional rugby.

Education at Wellington College

For university, he studied at Wellington College, Berkshire — one of England’s most prestigious independent schools. Wellington College, located in the village of Crowthorne, is renowned for producing athletes and leaders of distinction. Therefore, it was a fitting environment for a young man destined for elite sport.

Playing for England Before Choosing Scotland

Thom Evans had played rugby for England U16, U18, and U21 teams. He then chose to represent Scotland and gained his first international cap in June 2008.

This was a defining decision. He had the option of representing England. Instead, he chose the nation of his family roots. It was a choice that would shape the peak years of his career.

Rugby Career: A Wing Built for Speed

London Wasps (2004–2006)

Thom Evans played as a wing for the Glasgow Warriors team. However, his professional journey began earlier. He started his senior career with London Wasps from 2004 to 2006, making 2 appearances and scoring 0 points.

These were formative years. He was learning the professional game. He was building the pace, the precision, and the fearlessness that would define him as a wing.

Glasgow Warriors (2006–2010): The Peak Years

Evans played for Glasgow Warriors from 2006 to 2010, making 60 appearances and scoring 110 points.

At Glasgow Warriors, he became a standout performer. His speed, precision, and field awareness made him a key player. Furthermore, he was joined in the team by his younger brother Max Evans — a rare and special circumstance that made both family and sporting history.

Representing Scotland (2008–2010): 10 Caps

He played on the wing for Glasgow Warriors. Evans earned 10 caps for Scotland and played alongside his younger brother Max Evans.

Playing alongside his brother was a moment Thom has spoken about with deep emotion. “It’s one thing dreaming about it, and when it actually comes about and we’re standing at the Stade de France about to take on the French, side-by-side, it’s a moment I’ll never forget. We had the whole family there, our closest friends had made the flight over, and it was just a moment where all the hard work and sacrifices made it all worth it,” he said.

The Injury That Changed Everything

February 13, 2010: The Darkest Day

In a Six Nations game against Wales on February 13, 2010, Evans suffered a severe neck injury after colliding with Welsh player Lee Byrne.

He had a bad accident. He collided with another player and suffered a severe neck injury. He was taken off the field and rushed to the hospital. He had two operations to help stabilize his spine. Doctors said his neck bones were so out of place that he was very close to being paralyzed or even dying.

The immediate danger was terrifying. Nevertheless, Thom has always been candid about the gravity of what happened.

“I was playing for Scotland against Wales in the Six Nations, and I was really fortunate because an injury of that magnitude, suffered on such a big stage, meant I had the very best personnel there to deal with it. At the time, I was just so grateful not to be in a wheelchair. But a year or so after the injury, it really hit me that I was never going to play the game again,” he said.

Official Retirement: July 1, 2010

After four months of recovery, Thom had to stop playing rugby on July 1, 2010, because of his injury.

The injury forced him to retire from professional rugby. He was 24 years old. He had given everything to the sport. But now, an entirely new chapter was about to begin.

“When my rugby career ended, it was like I lost my identity,” he later revealed.

Life After Rugby: Reinvention and Resilience

Rugby World Cup Analyst (2011)

Thom did not disappear from the sport immediately. In 2011, he worked as an analyst for ITV’s coverage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. This kept him connected to the game he loved. It also introduced him to the world of television presenting — a world he would grow increasingly comfortable in. kiddle

Athletics Pursuit

By the end of the season, Evans decided that he would not continue with athletics, choosing instead to pursue an acting career. This willingness to explore, pivot, and try new things became the hallmark of his post-rugby identity.

Strictly Come Dancing (2014)

In September 2014, Thom was a contestant on the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing. He danced with professional dancer Iveta Lukosiute but was voted off in the fifth week.

They were unlucky to be the fourth couple voted off after they came up against Simon Webbe and Kristina Rihanoff in the dance-off. Although the judges’ vote was 2-2, Thom and Iveta had to leave Strictly because Len had the casting vote.

Nevertheless, Strictly gave him a platform. It showed audiences a charismatic, warm, and likable personality beyond the rugby field.

Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls (2016)

He also showcased his survival skills on Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls in 2016. This appearance underlined his physical resilience and adventurous nature — qualities forged on the rugby field that translated seamlessly into extreme television challenges.

The X Factor: Celebrity — and a Life-Changing Meeting (2019)

In October 2019, Thom was on The X Factor: Celebrity. He was part of a music group called Try Star, along with Levi Davis and Ben Foden. They made it to the semi-finals of the competition.

Evans initially thought Scherzinger was “out of his league.” Their first real interaction happened after an awkward performance of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” when Scherzinger helped save their performance on the show. As Evans put it, he “never looked back” after that moment.

This chance meeting on a television stage would become the most important encounter of his life.

Modeling and Media Career

In addition to his modeling career, he earns income through online fitness coaching courses.

His impressive athletic career and stunning looks helped him transition into the entertainment industry. His good looks and charisma made him a sought-after model and television personality.

He is also known for Love Advent (2011) and Take Me Out (2010) as part of his television work. Together, these appearances helped establish him as a recognizable face in British entertainment well beyond the rugby world.

Personal Life: Love, Engagement, and Broadway Glory

Meeting Nicole Scherzinger

In January 2020, it was reported that Evans was dating singer Nicole Scherzinger, having met on The X Factor: Celebrity the previous year.

Nicole Scherzinger is a singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and television personality born on June 29, 1978, in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is globally renowned as the lead vocalist of The Pussycat Dolls and as a judge on multiple versions of The X Factor.

A Beach Proposal: June 2023

After three years of dating, the retired rugby player popped the question to Scherzinger in June 2023. “I said yes 💍♥️,” she captioned Instagram photos of the romantic beach proposal at the time, while Evans also shared the photos via his own account, writing, “My Ever After 💍❤️.”

Supporting Nicole at the 2025 Tony Awards

Nicole Scherzinger won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2025 for her performance as Norma Desmond in the Broadway revival of Sunset Boulevard, which opened in October 2024.

Thom Evans stood by her side as she took home the trophy. Scherzinger couldn’t keep her hands off her former athlete beau as the loved-up couple packed on the PDA at the star-studded award show.

Evans has been looking to get married soon, expressing excitement about planning the wedding. In a world of celebrity spectacle, the couple represent what quiet support, mutual respect, and shared dreams truly look like.

Family and Brother Max Evans

Evans’s brother Max also played rugby for Scotland and Glasgow Warriors. Maxwell Brian Evans won 44 caps for Scotland — a remarkable achievement that reflects just how deeply sport runs in the Evans family. Their cousin is the well-known British television presenter Chris Evans.

Career Timeline

Year	Milestone
2004–2006	London Wasps (2 appearances)
2006–2010	Glasgow Warriors (60 appearances, 110 points)
2008	First Scotland cap
2010	Career-ending neck injury vs. Wales (Feb 13)
2010	Official retirement from rugby (July 1)
2011	ITV analyst, 2011 Rugby World Cup
2014	Strictly Come Dancing, BBC — 5th week elimination
2016	Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls
2019	The X Factor: Celebrity — Try Star (semi-finalist)
2020	Relationship with Nicole Scherzinger confirmed
2023	Engaged to Nicole Scherzinger (beach proposal)
2025	Supported Nicole Scherzinger at the 2025 Tony Awards