HE’S a Newport hall of famer who racked up 287 appearances over 12 seasons in black and amber but Mark Workman says being team manager on WRU National Cup final day will top the lot.

The former lock is a Rodney Parade great thanks to a playing career that started against London Welsh in 1993.

Workman had two spells for the club, missing the cup triumph over Neath in 2001 and loss in the final to Llanelli in 2003 because he was playing for Caerphilly, and was inducted into the Black and Ambers’ hall of fame in 2013.

He has since become a leading figure off the field as part of Craig Warlow’s management team, the 6ft 6ins former forward being a huge presence at the club in more ways than one.

And few will be prouder than Workman when the class of 2018 run out against Merthyr at Principality Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 5.35pm).

“Being part of a final with Newport, which is my club that I have been associated with for 25 years, is massive,” said the 44-year-old from Machen, who played for Caerphilly in their 36-13 loss to Neath at the stadium in 2004 alongside Newport forwards coach Ty Morris.

“I have never felt anything like that feeling in the semi-final against Llandovery, when on the brink of it but under pressure. It was unbelievable.

“I have great playing memories with the club but this is the pinnacle, to be part of the off-field staff and get to a final is massive and I am really looking forward to it.”

The achievement is made all the more remarkable given what the famous club has gone through over the past 12 months.

This time last year there was uncertainty over the future with Newport shareholders facing a vote to decide whether to sell their historic home to the Welsh Rugby Union.

The green light was reluctantly given, meaning that the Black and Ambers had to do things differently.

“The final is massive after the last year and the club potentially not being in existence,” said Workman, who was nervously waiting by the Rodney Parade ‘cabbage patch’ for the result on the night of the vote.

“This time last year everyone was down because of the uncertainty over our future and nobody knew where things were going but we have pulled together, on and off the field.

“Maybe we have become more of a community club and that’s a big part of where we are today.

“Big credit must go to coaches, because our squad is not full of household names. It is their attention to detail that has brought on a lot of the players that they pulled in from local clubs.

“They are a side that has great character and that was a massive part in us winning at Merthyr up there (19-18 in March), a win that shows that we have it in us.”

And Workman believes Newport will profit on Sunday from lifting silverware shortly after the yes vote last year.

“The Tier Two Premiership competition got a bit of stick but winning it was huge for us,” he said.

“We found ourselves in the bottom half of the table, where we didn’t want to be, but then we wanted to win it.

“There was pressure on the game when we were playing Neath in the final and we went there and won it. That has given us the belief that we can win things and we have pushed on from there.

“The day out at the final on Sunday is a reward for the fans and volunteers who have helped get us there after the period of uncertainty, but we want to win it now and we know that we have it in us.”

The Black and Ambers are selling tickets for Sunday’s finals Day at Principality Stadium when they play the third and final game.

They cost £10 for adults and £5 for those aged 16 and under, with tickets (cash only) available from Rodney Parade tomorrow (2-7pm), Thursday (2-7pm), Friday (2-7pm) and Saturday (midday to 4pm).