Top man: Ojo on the attack for London Irish. He has scored 61 tries in his 199 appearances so far
By Katie Field
Who is the man of the moment?
Topsy Ojo, the London Irish wing/full-back who will be looking to break his try-scoring duck in this Aviva Premiership season and help his team claim their third win of the campaign when they take on London Wasps at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday, 30 November (kick-off 3pm).
Why is he in the spotlight?
Ojo, 28, is running out for the London Irish first team for the 200th time – against the same opposition and at the same venue as when he made his club debut back in 2005. He scored a try that day, after coming off the bench, and is hoping for more of the same this time as the Exiles try to climb away from the lower reaches of the league table.
In this, his testimonial season, the former England wing, who joined London Irish Academy in 2003, has just signed a deal to keep him at London Irish until 2017, reinforcing his status as that rare beast in the professional game, a one-club man.
Running rose: Ojo scores a try against New Zealand in 2008
What’s Ojo got to say about it?
“I joined London Irish straight from school and the club have been brilliant to me over the last 10 years.
“I’ve been aware of it [the 200-game mark] because Paicey (David Paice) has been trying to catch me. He’s only a few games behind me so he’s mentioned it a few times.
“The magnitude of the game itself hasn’t changed my preparations. It’s a great achievement and I’m looking forward to celebrating it, but to get four points will make the day 10 times better.”
Will he be whooping or weeping this weekend?
London Irish’s only home wins this season have been away at struggling Worcester and at home to local rivals Harlequins. They lost at Welford Road last weekend as their pack were out-muscled by Leicester. London Wasps are not doing much better than the Irish and were walloped 28-5 at home by Bath last weekend. The fallout from that may just inspire Wasps to an away win this time.
Take a look at Ojo’s best bits, for club and country – there have been plenty of them!
Watch Ojo and London Irish take on London Wasps at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday, 30 November, kick-off 3pm.