Zingari-Richmond flanker Steve Roberts brought up 100 games for the seniors on the weekend.
It was a pretty good effort, considering he will tell anyone who will listen, "I don't want to play any more".
At 35 going on 36, the diminutive loosie has been looking for an escape hatch. Had the Colours made the final of the bottom six last season, he would have played 100 games and bowed out a happy man. But the team missed out on the final and Roberts felt compelled to return to raise the milestone, and, well, help out his mates.
It turns out leaving just is not that easy."I want to hang the boots up now but I'm getting a bit of pressure just to hang around and I will hang around," Roberts said.
"I virtually just came back to raise the milestone ... and I don't want to play too many minutes."
Roberts joined the club as an 18-year-old but did not play senior rugby until he was 28.
He made his debut in May, 2009 when the side lost to Pirates 28-14 at Montecillo.
He played his 50th game in March 2012 when the colours played Taieri and the side lost 24-18.
He brought up his 100th game, also with a loss, last week when Taieri beat Zingari-Richmond 55-24.
Over the time Roberts has scored 10 tries.
He is small for a flanker and started out in premier rugby on the wing.
"But I went back to openside and I probably only weighed about 75kg at that point. I'm up to 85kg now. I've put on a bit of beef.
"The bottom of a ruck and the middle of a maul does not hold the same attraction it once did.
"I used to enjoy it but not so much any more."
Roberts has kept returning to Montecillo winter after winter, including this one, because of the people involved. He enjoys the atmosphere at the club but it has not always been easy.
He played during the period where the senior side lost 33 consecutive games and his win-loss ratio "wouldn't be very high".
Despite the lean run, Roberts still enjoyed his rugby but struggled to recall the last gasp 29-28 win against University A which broke the streak.
"I'm there for the people and not really so much the rugby."
Roberts works in heating and ventilation. He has been with his fiancee, Kelly Hardie, for the past 15 years. Roberts has a stepson, Liam Hardie (17), and the couple have two boys, Caleb (13) and Deacon (8).
The Colours have a tough assignment tomorrow, hosting Southern at Montecillo.
The match of the round shapes as the game between University A and Taieri. It is a repeat of last year's final.
There is an intriguing clash between Dunedin and Kaikorai at Bishopscourt, while Green Island will still be smarting from its narrow lost to Pirates when it hosts Alhambra-Union at Miller Park.
Harbour is at home to Pirates and should be too strong.
