AFTER dropping down from the professional ranks to become an apprentice tattooist, lock Damian Welch is desperate to leave his mark on the Principality Premiership with Cross Keys.

Last season the 36-year-old signed off in style when he came off the bench in Cardiff Blues' famous European Challenge Cup triumph against Gloucester.

The 6ft 6ins forward went from the £185million San Mames Stadium in Bilbao to the rather more modest Pandy Park for the season opener against Bridgend after taking up an offer from his former Pontypridd teammate Morgan Stoddart, head coach of Keys.

Welch – whose Premiership exploits earned a chance at the Scarlets, who he left for a five-year spell at Exeter – decided the time was right to look towards life after rugby while continuing to play the sport.

"It's been good and the transition has been made easier because I played in the Welsh Premiership before," said Welch, who will captain Keys at Bargoed tomorrow.

"Now it's about having fun and playing rugby for enjoyment rather than the daily grind. That's really freshened things up for me and I have been able to do an apprenticeship with Skin Creation in Cardiff.

"There is a nice blend of both worlds with the Monday to Friday, 9-5 and then still having the rugby after coming out of a pro environment. Having two things to focus on means it's certainly not going to get boring."

Tattoo artist in the week, Welch is charged with bringing plenty of needle to the Keys pack on a Saturday.

Things have started well for Stoddart's new-look side at Pandy Park with a pair of home wins against Bridgend and Neath plus a rally for a bonus at Carmarthen after a nightmare start.

The uncertainty caused by a summer of change meant that many pundits felt Keys, who had prospered in recent years thanks to a familiar core of players, would be involved in a basement battle.

It's early days but Welch is encouraged by the way that the team has gelled with the skipper, former Dragons fly-half Jason Tovey and stalwarts Leon Andrews, Tom Lampard and Richard Cornock being leading figures in the process.

"We've got 10 points from three games and that's a good start," said Welch. "We didn't do ourselves justice in Carmarthen but it was positive how we reacted to that bad start.

"Given that there have been so many new faces with only something like three players retained it has been really pleasing that we have shown some top-quality attacking play.

"We've got some work to do defensively but it has been encouraging how the squad has come together.

"There is bit of experience in the side and we need to marry that with helping to bring through the quicker, faster, younger guys."

Keys have started promisingly while Bargoed have yet to settle after bringing in a glut of players this summer.

The Bulls have lost all three but are always especially tough on their own turf.

"Neath had a big old pack so we will be well prepared for that," said Welch. "It's going to be a good challenge because Bargoed haven't had the best of starts so will be desperate to get going on their own patch.

"This season it will be crucial to win your home games but after we've managed to do that against Bridgend and Neath it would be massive to pick up the odd away win to stay away from that dogfight at the bottom."