Evans has 16 caps for the All Blacks (Getty Images)

All Black fly-half Nick Evans has said he is looking forward to life outside the rugby spotlight when he joins Harlequins next season.

"We're in the spotlight over here [New Zealand] and it'll be nice going where rugby's not the number-one sport," Evans, 28, told BBC London 94.9.

He heads for England after the New Zealand domestic season knowing his move could end his All Blacks career.

"It was a tough decision to leave but I felt it was the right decision for me."

The New Zealand Rugby Union spent three months trying to persuade Evans to stay and he has a clause in his Quins deal which would allow him to leave early.

He said All Blacks coach Graham Henry had also tried to persuade him to stay.

Evans added: "I had a few chats with him, but it's not like he can come out and say I'll pick you every time and guarantee you a spot.

"He told me what he could tell me and in the end it was up to me to make my own decision."

Despite his move Evans still hopes to play for the All Blacks in the summer Tests against Ireland and England and the following Tri-Nations series.

Evans has played Super 14 rugby for both the Otago Highlanders and the Auckland Blues, and can also play at full-back and centre as well as fly-half.

And he admitted his decision to choose Harlequins was helped by the club's director of rugby, Dean Richards.

"I spoke to him a couple of times and we talked about what the side wanted to achieve, about the district and the history of the club, we had some great talks," he concluded.

You can hear the full interview with Nick Evans on BBC London 94.9's rugby union show The Scrum on Thursday, 15 May at 2100 BST.