HE'S racked up 300 appearances over an 11-year career at Cross Keys but forward Tom Lampard says he's got plenty left in the tank, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 31-year-old builder from Pontllanfraith passed the milestone when coming off the bench in the loss to Llandovery at Church Bank last Saturday.

After coming through the youth ranks at Newbridge and then playing for Fleur-de-Lys, Lampard signed for Keys in 2005. Over a decade later the mobile forward is still going strong and remains a key figure in the club's pack.

"I'm getting old now but I'm still enjoying it," he said. "As long as my body keeps going and the club wants me I will keep playing.

"The important thing is to keep performing because I don't want to be making up the numbers but I feel that I got a fair few years left yet.

"When I signed I never imagined that I'd get anywhere near this – I guess I'm a bit of a survivor!

Lampard's 300 comes courtesy of a combination of durability and versatility, the latter meaning that after signing as an openside he was used as a makeshift centre and even an emergency wing.

Nowadays he often finds himself in the second row and it was with 5 on his back that he shone in Keys' finest season.

"The stand-out year was 2012 when we got to the British and Irish Cup final against Munster A and then won the Swalec Cup against Pontypridd – it was a brilliant season," he said.

"I've got lots of good memories and one of the reasons why I've kept playing here is because the atmosphere at the club is so good. It's a friendly club and the rugby is enjoyable, we seem to sign good players who you also want to be friends with.

"At this level you don't want rugby to feel like a job; you play because you want to and at Keys I'm still having a good time."