Second-row Evans, who played for the Blues at Under 18 and 21 level, knows more than most about rugby history having been educated at Christ College in Brecon and played for Cardiff University in the Welsh Varsity Match.

But none of that comes close to lifting the Nomura Trophy at Twickenham last year after recording a 21-10 victory over fierce rivals Cambridge.

Evans, 28, said: "I've played in a couple of big games and semi-finals in Wales but that game at Twickenham was pretty special. It was the best day of my rugby career.

"The atmosphere was just amazing. There were about 30,000 there, obviously they're all students and so passionate - the noise was incredible."

Evans made the decision to pursue a sporting and academic career at Oxford following advice from former Cardiff. Pontypridd and Wales lock Stuart Roy, who played for Cambridge University during his own medical studies.

Evans said: "I took a year out after Christ College and Bob Newman, who's a bit of a Cardiff legend and was a big influence on Sam Warburton and Jamie Roberts, took me under his wing.

"I played for Cardiff Under-19s before the game went regional and then the under-21s. I also played for Cardiff medics.

"At that point Mark Ring told me I wasn't good enough at the Blues but to come up to Caerphilly in the Welsh Premiership.

"I then played for Bridgend and my local team Glamorgan Wanderers. But I came up here after speaking to Stuart Roy and he said it would be the best year of my life - I'm very glad I made that decision."

In two day's time (Thurs) Evans will again follow in a long line of Welshmen, including Roy and fellow internationals Gerald Davies, Gareth Davies and Nick Walne, to feature in the Varsity Match and he is determined to repeat the feat of 2010.

Evans said: "We've had two tough games against Northampton and Esher and we're starting to build in the right direction.

"The players are certainly starting to get in the groove and were coming to understand the patterns and each other. We're not over confident but we should be bang on it.

"It's always a pretty close game. There's a lot of new players each year and you have just three months to build a team from scratch but we've been lucky to keep a few guys.

"They got the better of us up front last year but the back row and halfbacks controlled the game despite not having a good platform. So we have a point to prove up front and have a few tricks up our sleeves. The guys are a year older and we've all improved as players.

"Wadey (head coach James Wade) has taken us to a new level in terms of our personal skills and it's just about bonding as a team and getting the patterns right."

Evans admits he is already feeling the pre-match jitters and compares the historic match to any local derby - just on a bigger scale. And like any big amateur match there are plenty of post-match beers to toast a well-earned victory.

Evans added: "It's a big game and there's such a buzz already. I can't explain what a thrill it is to win it.
"The tradition has been there for so long that it's become a focal point. We're not pretending to be internationals or fantastic rugby players. We're just doing what we enjoy and are all here for the same reasons.

"It's very passionate. It really matters, not for money or contracts, but for pride in your university and that's really refreshing.

"But people who have played in big local derbies can certainly have a good idea of what it's like to play in the Varsity Match.

"We have a big dinner in the Oxford and Cambridge club afterwards. There's nothing like that in Cardiff.

"It got a bit rowdy last year and then there's a post-match doo in a nightclub. There's a 'week of sin' after the game which is good because you put in so much effort in the months before the game.

"But winning a Blue is an achievement you can really be proud of when you look back."

Tomorrow's clash at the home of English rugby could be the beginning of the end of the medical student's rugby career. Evans is in the process of applying for jobs back in Wales and admits hanging up his playing boots will be a sad affair.

He added: "I'm applying for jobs in Wales and will hopefully comeback. I'd love to carry on playing rugby but you have to hang up your boots at some point and this might be my last year which will be sad."