BURNHAM-ON-SEA RFC stalwart Tim Piper is set to make his 450th appearance for the club this weekend, as the Somerset Premier leaders host Weston-super-Mare 2nds.

Stags captain Ross McKechan paid tribute to the long-serving fly-half, saying: "It’s a significant milestone that Tim has reached over a playing career of more than 20 years.

"In that time, he has seen the club through various coaches, hundreds of players, plenty of defeats, emphatic wins, promotions, relegations, cup victory and plenty of memories that he can look back on with pride.

"As he nears the end of his playing career, he continues to put his body on the line week in, week out, and is always looking to improve and get better, regularly outdoing guys half his age in training.

"As a coach, he has developed a number of young players in our club and, more recently, has impacted positively on our first team, as an assistant coach to Kev Innals.

"It has been a pleasure to play with Tim over the last decade and I’m sure there are plenty of past and present players, who feel the same."