Evans says a lifestyle choice and not money was the main reason he signed with the London-based club.

The 28-year-old announced today he had signed for the Premiership club until June 30, 2011, two months before the World Cup starts in New Zealand.

He said the decision probably ended his hopes of playing for the All Blacks in the 2011 World Cup and was unsure how it would affect his All Blacks future until he left at the end of the domestic Air NZ Cup.

"I am still hoping I get selected and if I don't get selected it will be because I am not playing well enough."

The decision was not based on what the Harlequins and the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) were offering.

"It never came down to margins and things like that. It was just about the lifestyle choice and what I wanted to do."

Evans would not reveal what the contract was worth but said he had made a three-year commitment to the Harlequins, a club with a rich history, and he had no regrets.

He said while it probably meant an end to his 2011 World Cup hopes "you never say never".

"Things might happen. I might end up coming back but my full commitment will be to them (Harlequins) for three years."

He said the NZRU put some offers on the table which came "pretty close" to the Harlequins offer.

He said All Blacks coach Graham Henry wanted him to stay.

"I took on board what he was saying and things like that but in the end it was my decision."

He said he ultimately decided what was best for him.

He said rugby allowed him to go overseas and see the world and experience the things that a lot of his mates had been doing.

"If I looked back I think I would be a fool if I didn't take this opportunity."

He said the money was "part of it but it is definitely not the full thing that swayed my mind at all".

He said while it was tough playing in the shadow of All Blacks No 10 Dan Carter, the best first five-eighth in the world, he did not know whether Carter would also sign offshore and that did not influence his decision to go to Harlequins.

He was proud of his rugby achievements as "a skinny white guy," which he was called by his mates.

Evans made his test debut against England in Dunedin in 2004 and has played 16 tests, scoring 103 points.

At Super 14 level, Evans played 32 games for the Highlanders and 10 games so far for the Blues this season.

Blues coach David Nucifora also said last week the current Super 14 season would be his last with the Auckland-based franchise as he was returning home to Australia for family reasons.

Harlequins Director of Rugby Dean Richards said "I am delighted that Nick has decided to join Harlequins. He is a highly skilled and versatile player with a wealth of experience of playing top level rugby both at international level and in the Super 14 Competition.

"Nick will be a valuable asset to our side and I looking forward to working with him next season".

New Zealand Rugby Union general manager of professional rugby Neil Sorensen said regular talks with New Zealand international Evans, a fly-half or full-back, and his advisors had been going on since January in an effort to retain the player.

''We were definitely keen to keep him playing here in New Zealand,'' he said. ''While we are disappointed to lose a player and person of his calibre, we respect his decision and we wish him well over there.''

He also played for the New Zealand Sevens team in 2002 and was a member of the inaugural Junior All Blacks team in 2005.