NEWPORT'S record appearance holder David Waters, who played over 700 games for the club in 21 years between 1974-95, will return to Rodney Parade next week.

The evergreen lock, whose record will probably never be broken, is playing it one more time for Rod Snow in his testimonial match against Newport Gwent Dragons on May 21.

He is the latest personality to agree to play a part in the match which will bring the curtain down on Snow's 10-year career at Rodney Parade before he retires from rugby and returns to his native Newfoundland.

A whole host of players will return to Newport to honour Snow, who has taken on almost a gladiatorial role with Newport and the Dragons over the past decade.

Shane Howarth, the former New Zealand and Wales star, who enjoyed a memorable finish to his career at Newport, topping 400 points in season 2001-02, is already back in England where he is staying with ex-Newport captain Simon Raiwalui in London.

He returns to Caerleon, where he lived when a player here, with his wife and family next week staying with friends before he plays for Snow's XV.

Also returning, but on a flying visit, is South Africa legend Gary Teichmann, who captained Newport for two glorious years at the end of his career from 1999-2001.

He flies in with his wife the day before the match and will be met at Heathrow Airport by benefactor Tony Brown, who makes one final official visit to Rodney Parade before stepping down.

Also flying in from his Vancouver base in Canada will be former Newport outside half Gareth Rees while Canadian back Dean Blanks, from Snow's Newfoundland, is coming over especially to play.

Rees will be involved in a special place kicking competition at half-time with other former kicking aces Howarth and Paul Turner, who has just taken over as Dragons coach. Mark Jones, Rodney Parade groundsman who teed up for them all, may also take part.

"The most important thing is that everyone shows up and has a good time," said Snow. "The old style family village will be there with bouncy castle and face painting with a good atmosphere and I hope there's a decent crowd."

Not available to play in the game will be the Dragons' summer tourists with Wales and the British Lions, Matthew Watkins and Alix Popham also ruled out of Snow's team. The match starts at 2pm to avoid a clash with the FA Cup final.

Snow returns to Canada on June 6 after playing in the Rob Howley/Scott Quinnell testimonial at the Millennium Stadium the day before, but is still not sure whether he will play for Canada against Wales in Toronto four days later.