Almost 15 years after he was plucked by Jack Rowell from the obscurity of Third Division Otley and Woodhouse Grove School and thrust into the Five Nations spotlight, Paul Sampson is now just one game away from making his 100th league appearance for London Welsh.

The Dragons face Bedford tomorrow in the British & Irish Cup before Sampson will get his chance to reach his century when Welsh travel to Rotherham on Wednesday for their rearranged Championship fixture.

The 33-year-old former England wing marked his 99th league appearance for Welsh last weekend by scoring tries 41 and 42 in the Dragons’ 48-12 win over Moseley at Old Deer Park.

“I’m very proud as to play 100 league games was something I decided I wanted to do once I got to 60 or 70,” said Sampson.

“I’d sooner make 100 league appearances for (just) one club, and a club like London Welsh, and there’s still a lot to play for, so it’s a pleasure to be involved.”

After spells with Wasps, where he was the Premiership’s top try scorer in 2000-01, Bath, Worcester and rugby league side Wakefield Wildcats, Sampson joined Welsh in 2006 from Blackheath.

He was capped three times by England, with his debut coming on the infamous Tour from Hell in 1998 against South Africa.