Former New Zealand fly-half Nick Evans has ended speculation about his immediate future by signing a new three-year deal with English Premiership champions Harlequins, the London club said Thursday.

Evans, capped 16 times by the All Blacks, had been linked with lucrative moves to French and Japanese clubs but instead the 32-year-old, a key figure in Quins’ title triumph last season, will be staying at The Stoop until at least 2016 having joined from Otago four years ago.

The fly-half has scored almost 1,200 points for Quins and his status as one of English top-flight rugby’s most successful imports was confirmed when he was named the (English) Rugby Players’ Association player of the season last term.

“There is not a player, supporter or coach in the game in England, let alone Harlequins, who will not be delighted that Nick Evans has agreed to stay with us for another three years,” said Conor O’Shea, Harlequins’ director of rugby.

“While I know one of the main reasons he is staying with us revolves around his family, ultimately it is about his ambition to achieve things with this club.”

Evans, speaking about his new deal, said: “My decision was made easy by the ambition of this great club, the success we have had and the hunger to want more.”

Quins are currently top of the Premiership table while they started their European Cup campaign with consecutive wins over France’s Biarritz and Ireland’s Connacht last month.

Evans went off injured against Biarritz nearly three weeks ago but is understood to be on the brink of returning to action.