IN the run-up to April Fool's Day, it is always worthwhile to take a little more care than usual to work out the difference between fact and fiction, particularly with Ian Evans around.
The resident joker in the Ospreys' squad put out a tweet this week suggesting the region's academy had been disbanded to pay for Dan Biggar's new contract.
Cue a number of gullible souls lamenting such an awful state of affairs.
No doubt many of those taken in also believe spaghetti grows on trees, Graham Rowntree doubles up as secretary of the Steve Walsh Appreciation Society and the Loose Women team moonlight as nightclub bouncers.
For the record, the Ospreys academy is still up in business.
But once open season had jocularly been declared on Biggar by Evans, an army of online acolytes waded in with their own contributions, many of which can be found on Evans's Twitter page.
Here's a sample: "Just heard the tax on savings in Cyprus is going to fund Dan Biggar's salary."
Jonathan Thomas piled in with: "Can't believe tolls have been introduced to get into Ospreylia to pay @dan biggar's new contract."
And someone else offered: "Think I saw 2 of @dan biggar's butlers picking up his wages this morning."
No doubt Biggar will look to take his revenge when Evans comes to negotiate his own deal.
There again, trying to counter Evans with a sharp comment or a practical joke would be akin to taking on D'Artagnan in a sword fight.
But here's the thing about Evans. When he gets his business head on, it is hard to recognise him as the figure who plays jokes and teases others with such relish.
At the media session to promote the double-header in Cardiff tomorrow, when the Ospreys will face the Blues after the Scarlets have taken on the Dragons, he was focused sharply on rugby and what is coming this weekend.
"We know how important this game against the Blues is," he said.
"It is one we need to get a good result from because we have left ourselves with a fair bit to do to qualify for the play-offs.
"The Blues will want to trip us up. They have a good pack, with players like Josh Navidi and Sam Warburton, and I'd imagine they'd come at us in the contact area and try to slow down our ball.
"We need to stop that if we are to get what we want out of the game."
The Blues have just added a significant addition to their squad in the shape of Filo Paulo, the giant lock who helped caused Wales such discomfort in the autumn Test against Samoa, with one of his ruck clear-outs leaving Dan Biggar broken and bloodied on the floor.
Paulo also landed a heavy hit on Richard Hibbard, but this weekend he will not have the support of his relentlessly physical fellow islanders.
And he will be up against an Ospreys pack who are not often outmuscled.
"We are just looking forward to taking on the Blues," said Evans.
"Are we daunted? No, not really.
"We have been happy with the way we have been playing as a pack of forwards this season. We've stood firm, so we'll relish that kind of confrontation.
"There should be great battles all over the pitch.
"You take in the back row, where Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton could meet up. There are not many countries who can say they have two world-class opensides, but we can in Wales.
"I'm sure those two would like to face each other to see who can get the upper hand. Players enjoy going up against top opponents.
"You have to face the best if you want to be in the frame for a Welsh jersey. You have to show you are dominant."
A good end to the season could swing Evans a Lions place after his impressive performances during the Six Nations.
At 6ft 8in and 18st 4lb, he has established himself as the premier middle jumper in Wales, but he also scrummages like a slow-moving tractor, tackles with intent and relishes charging forward with ball in hand.
It was Evans who set the tone against England recently with three tackles in the first 90 seconds, all of them clattering affairs. Indeed, being hit by him must be akin to scaffolding crashing on top of you.
"I'm quite pleased with the way it's been going," he said. "But I'm not thinking of the Lions. Everyone wants to be part of such a great team, but there is a lot that can happen before the squad is announced so there's no point dwelling on it.
"I'm enjoying the season. I did miss a bit either side of Christmas, but it was great to return and help Wales win the Six Nations title. The fact that it was a back-to-back success after the previous year's Grand Slam, made it special.
"A Welsh side hasn't done that for a number of years, so it meant a lot to be a part of.
"But none of us at the Ospreys are resting on any laurels. We still have work to do this season. We want to keep the RaboDirect Pro12 trophy in our silverware cabinet."
Evans added: "There is a camaraderie among all the Wales boys but at the end of the day we are playing the Blues and we need to win to keep us in the top four.
"It's all set up for an exciting finish to the season. We just have to perform."
