Topsy, turvy: all change for winger

LONDON Irish winger Topsy Ojo has announced that he is retiring from rugby union at the end of the 2018/19 having made more than 300 appearances for the side.

He made his final home appearance in a London

Irish shirt on Saturday as the team beat Ealing Trailfinders, having secured promotion back to the top flight last weekend with a handsome victory over Richmond.

The winger has become a club legend and is the record appearance maker after his 301st appearance at the weekend. He is also the all-time record try scorer for Irish with 80 tries in all competitions over 16 seasons.

Ojo graduated as a member of the club's academy and made his first team debut against London Wasps in October 2005 having joined in July 2003.

He was a key member in the Exiles team that reached the Heineken Cup semi-final in 2008 and the Premiership final a year later.

“It has been a privilege to play for this club since 2003 and I'm grateful that I've been able to do so for so long,” said Ojo.

“I'm very proud of the milestones and the records I've achieved that will hopefully stand for a long, long time. I am also delighted that the club is back in the Premiership with a positive impact on the horizon, and even though I wont be on the pitch anymore, hopefully I can continue to make an impact off it.

“I'll be moving into a commercial position as I take on an ambassadorial role for the club as it gets ready to move to its new home at the Brentford Community Stadium next summer.

“I would like to thank all the supporters who have been brilliant since the day I started as well as the coaches and teammates who I've worked with over the years. Thank you to my wife, my kids, my parents and my brothers for all their love and support through it all. Rugby has allowed me to do so much and hopefully I've been able to give back and leave a mark in some way."

London Irish President, Mick Crossan said: "Topsy has been a magnificent servant to London Irish for what he has done both on and off the field. He has broken all the club's major records and has done so in a classy manner.

“As a club, we owe Topsy a great deal of gratitude for all his efforts over the last 16 years. He is a London Irish man and I am delighted he will remain with us as he enters the next chapter of his life."