Nick Evans has won 16 caps for the All Blacks (Getty)

New Harlequins signing Nick Evans may be available for the start of next season's Guinness Premiership after being overlooked by New Zealand.

The fly-half was not picked by All Blacks coach Graham Henry in the 25-man training squad.

Evans has signed a contract at Harlequins until 2011.

Although he was not expected to arrive until the turn of the year he may now exercise a clause in his contract that allows early release.

Evans, 27, was due to play for Auckland in the Air New Zealand cup this summer but may now decide to head to the Stoop in time for the start of next season.