Wales second row Ian Evans will have to be at his best to reclaim a starting place in Australia © PA Photos

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Wales' Ian Evans is under no illusions that he faces a tough task to reclaim his starting place once he joins up with the Welsh touring party after the first Test.

The Osprey second row is due to be married on the Greek island of Santorini on June 7, two days before Wales play their first Test against Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

His club-mate Alun Wyn Jones will also be absent, as he is set to attend his sister's wedding, which means that caretaker coach Rob Howley is likely to pair Bradley Davies and Luke Charteris in the engine room.

"I can accept that it could be tough to get back in the team," Evans said. "Once you get your chance, you have got to take it, and if I am lucky enough to get another chance then the responsibility falls on my shoulders. If everything does go well for the team in the first Test, and I hope it does, then I can fully understand the situation. I will have to take it on the chin."

Evans is set for a mad dash down under to put himself in contention for the second Test at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium. He will leave the wedding party behind and board a flight that takes him via Athens and Dubai to Melbourne.

The fact that he and his future bride chose the date for the wedding over a year ago shows how quickly he has re-established himself as a key component of the Welsh team. He returned to Wales colours for the first time in over three years when he started the one-off Test against Australia in Cardiff in December last year. He then began all five of Wales' matches on their way to a Six Nations grand slam.

"At the time we chose the wedding date, I was just getting back into it with the Ospreys after injury," Evans said. "A lot of things have changed from January onwards, really, which have been really positive in my rugby career. It has all been a bit of a whirlwind. If you had said to me at the start of this season how it would end, I would have laughed at you. I spoke with (Wales head coach) Warren Gatland and he was fully understanding. Warren has always said that family comes before rugby, and he has given me his full backing."