ROD Snow is to make one more appearance in the Newport black and amber jersey, against Swansea in the Welsh Premier Division at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

It will be a fond farewell for Snow who has graced Rodney Parade for the past 10 years, eight with Newport and the last two with the Dragons before retiring next month after his testimonial game.

But it is stressed Saturday will be about more than sentiment and while the club want him to play it one more time they still have a match to win and a ground record to preserve as well as securing second place in the table behind Neath.

David Watkins has been chairman of Newport Rugby Club the whole time Snow has been there and, in fact, encouraged him here in the first place.

"Rod has been a model and I can't speak highly enough of him as a player, person and family man," said Watkins.

"He's been good for the club and supporters. In fact, he has been a revelation in the modern era, a throwback with his pride and commitment.

"He's been profoundly loyal because for many years after he arrived we struggled and he must have wondered what he had let himself in for.

"But it was nice that other people like Gary Teichmann and Shane Howarth joined to boost the team and give him some more enjoyment."

Newport coach David Rees is delighted to have Snow in the ranks. "Rod is an adopted Welshman and has made a heck of an impact, it must be a big wrench for him to move back to Canada," he said.

"We have still got a loyal support base and Rod has stuck by Newport. It'll be nice to see him in the club colours again after representing them with distinction fo so long.

"There has been a huge Newport bias to his career and it's important he has this game.

"There will be a lot of pressure on him, we're looking for a performance not an exhibition and we feel confident we can preserve our unbeaten home record.

"Though it will be an occasion it will not be treated like a testimonial."

Snow is humbled by the gesture. "I've always played for Newport, it's what I've been doing for the last two years in my own mind," he said.

"It's a huge honour to have another run-out, I can't wait. But it won't be just the sentiment, I'd like to win as well.

"I've had such a good time here, to have another opportunity to play for the black and ambers again makes me terribly proud, but the important thing is to protect the home record and I want to be part of that."