Having switched from Reading at the start of the 1998/99 season, Rodney made a sensational start to his Rams career by running in a hat-trick during a 61-11 home win against North Dorset, following it up with a consolation try in a 22-5 reverse against Tadley in the next league game.

He grabbed another in the 18-7 defeat to Sherborne in mid-December, before signing off for Christmas with a sensational five tries in a 70-7 rout of Blandford.

Rodney and Andy Lynch dotted down in an 18-10 defeat at Windsor, but he added a further double in a 65-5 trouncing of Blandford in the final game of the season, ending as top try scorer with 13 league tries as Rams finished seventh in Southern Counties South.

All told, he ran in 19 tries in his opening season, with further efforts coming in friendlies with Henley 2nds, Abbey 2nds, Aldermaston (2) and Drifters (2).

His impressive try-scoring form continued the following season when Rams improved to end the season with a third-place finish.

He began with a try in the opening 50-10 cruise at Swindon College Old Boys, and the bagged a brace at Bournemouth to help Rams to a 20-15 victory at Bournemouth.

The new millennium kicked off with Rodney scoring all five of his side’s tries in a 30-10 win at home to Ivel Barbarians – a result he looks back on fondly!

He crossed the next Saturday as Gensians beat Windsor 24-5, and took his seasonal tally to 15 with hat-tricks against both Swindon College Old Boys (74-20) and Bournemouth (53-14).

Again Rodney was top scorer, and this time he broke the 20-try mark including friendlies, with other scores coming against Bracknell 2nds (2), Maidenhead 2nds, Wasps B and Slough.

Although his final campaign was badly hit by injury, Rodney did dot down in the penultimate game of the title-winning season, helping secure a 17-8 victory at home to Devizes.

Tries by season:

1998/99 (13) – North Dorset x3 (h), Tadley (a), Sherborne (h), Blandford x5 (h), Windsor (a), Blandford x2 (a).

99/2000 (15) – Swindon College Old Boys (a), Bournemouth x2 (a), Ivel Barbarians x5 (a), Windsor (h), Swindon College Old Boys x3 (h), Bournemouth x3 (h).

00/01 (1) – Devizes (h).

The list:

21 - Azza Hopkins
22 - Spike Chandler
23 - JJ Bell
24 - Olly Poole
25 - Olly Foxley
26 - Greg Illingworth
27 - Andy Fairweather
28 - Josh Smith
29 - Ollie Randall
30 - Greg Way