In an elite club, John Coutts, Chris Champion, Paul Carroll and Dickie Porter are the only other players in Rams history to have scored five times in a game. Rodney did it twice after switching from Reading to Old Bath Road.

And he admits the second time he achieved the feat – against Ivel Barbarians – was particularly satisfying.

He recalled: “They didn’t like us that much! But it was funny, because the more they called us names, the more we ran in the tries (in a 30-10 win) and by the end of the game they’d stopped saying so much.”

Rodney’s other five-timer came against Blandford in a 70-7 cruise when one of his favourite teammates, Tim Bell, also ran in a hat-trick.

But he admitted: “They were a team who were just coming into a higher level and didn’t have much experience, while we had a very good side at that time.

“I had a feeling it could be a day to score a few tries and I did.”

His Rams career had started in fabulous fashion with a hat-trick in a 61-11 victory against North Dorset, and Rodney said he again had a feeling something special might happen.

He revealed: “It was a very good day. I was involved in most of the core moves and we kept the ball in hand and I was there to finish it.”

Having switched from Reading at the start of the 1998/99 season, Rodney scored 13 tries to finish as both top try and point scorer, and he collected another 15 the following year.

But he was keen to point out he had some superb teammates to help him out.

He gushed: “We had Tim Bell, Micky Bell, Greg Way, Jez Flynn – an amazing player – and so many more! Jason McMahon was brilliant although I was always scared of him with all his tattoos.

“It was great fun.”

Looking back at his time at Old Bath Road and his style of play, Rodney added: “I had to run because I was such a bad kicker.

“But I had a great time, particularly playing sevens as well and we had great support – I have very good memories.”

And he added he was proud the club have risen from Southern Counties South when he started to finishing as runners-up in National One last season.

He concluded: “I think it’s brilliant and to have a team from Reading doing well is so important.

“I’m chuffed to say many years ago I was a part of it and I was able to play for the club. Hopefully it can keep going!”

Rest of the calendar

1 - Jez Flynn
2 - Andy Lynch
3 - Josh Collis
4 - Joe Bell