IDENTITY CRISIS: Gareth Evans on the 1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand. Inset: top right, Rotorua's 'Gareth Evans' and bottom, the real Gareth Evans.

A man allegedly posing as a member of the 1977 British Lions rugby team in New Zealand has been enjoying special treatment in Rotorua.

Rotorua-based Gareth Evans, who says he is a tool maker, has been announcing himself as the same Gareth Evans (winger) who played three games for Wales and three internationals for the British Isles' tourists in New Zealand in the 1970s. He also told the Rotorua Review he was a member of the touring side.

Mr Evans has attended functions held by the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, met with civic leaders, during which he disclosed his rugby background, and was a guest of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union when the Steamers played Otago at Rotorua's International Stadium nearly two weeks ago, based on claims of past rugby glory.

But inquiries in Wales have led to a plea from the Welsh Gareth Evans, who says he has not lived outside Wales and claims the Rotorua man is an "impostor".

When asked if he was still linked with Welsh rugby and if he was employed for a time with the National Farming Union, the Rotorua-based Mr Evans replied: "Yes, I've done a lot of things."

He also said he had been in New Zealand a long time, "off and on". He said he emigrated in 1983.

But from Wales, the 1977 Lion Mr Evans, who works in the insurance finance sector, said he had never left "these shores permanently. Your man is clearly an impostor, I would like to get to the bottom of this".

Asked what memories he retained of the 1977 tour, the Rotorua Mr Evans said: "We had a rough time over here mainly because of the weather but we were sort of picked on by the press because of the '71 tour and they (Lions management) didn't want us to lose a game."

He also detailed his playing positions – "mainly the wing because of my speed".