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Ojo closing in on 200th game for London Irish

Aviva Premiership Rugby Football Union club the London Irish will be playing one of the biggest matches of the season when they take on the reigning champions the Leicester Tigers and one player who will be looking forward to the match with immense excitement is the club’s all time leading scorer Topsy Ojo, who will be making his 199th appearance for the club.

The versatile and speedy 28 year old is currently enjoying his testimonial year for the club immensely and there are talks ongoing between the player and the club to extend his current contract with the club to keep him with the Exiles beyond the contract period which expires at the end of the current season.

And Ojo himself insists that he is grateful for all the support and appreciation he has received throughout his career, the majority of which has been spent with the London Irish.

He stated that it is a good opportunity for him to thank all the people who have been supporting him throughout the years and from his point of view, he has immensely enjoyed his ten years at the club and with the 200th game coming so early in his testimonial year that it is almost a sign of great things. Ojo and some his team mates will take over the kitchens at the famous Nando’s restaurant and do all of the cooking themselves for the fans who flock there.

Ojo has been filling in at full back for the injured England international Tom Homer in all but one of the Exiles’ games this season.

And he stated that it has been a new experience and it has felt good to have the ball more regularly and be able to help out the London Irish at this time of crisis on the injury front.


Tom Homer to miss start of season

Aviva Premiership Rugby Football Union club the London Irish have been dealt a major blow as Tom Homer has been ruled out of the start of the new season of the Premiership with a severe groin strain.

The Exiles player was part of the squad that faced their London rivals The Wasps in a pre-season friendly but Homer collapsed barely five minutes into the match as he attempted the club’s first kick towards goal, writhing in agony as the club suffered a 30-12 defeat at the hands of their bitter rivals. The 23 year old had to be carried off the pitch and scans this week have revealed a significant injury and doctors have ruled out the player from the first few matches of the season at least.

Homer will see a specialist again who will determine whether he requires surgery for the condition. Homer will miss the start of the season with the London Irish taking on Saracens FC and the London double header in 10 days’ time at Twickenham Stoop and there are fears that he could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Brian Smith, the Director of Rugby at the club admitted that it didn’t look good after he went down attempting the first kick of the game. He mentioned that the injury has come out of the blue as Homer enjoyed a stellar pre-season training with the club. Smith mentioned they will know how long the player will be sidelined once they have spoken to specialists about the condition.

But the London Irish boss is still not worried at the apparently long absence of the player as he believes he has plenty of firepower in the side to replace him and he just wishes the player can come back from injury and lift the club in the latter stages.