Former England winger Topsy Ojo is to retire at the end of this season after 16 years with London Irish.

Ojo will make his farewell home appearance at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday against Ealing Trailfinders.

The 33-year-old is the Exiles' all-time record appearance maker and try scorer, having made his debut in October 2005.

"It has been a privilege to play for this club and I'm grateful that I've been able to do so for so long," Ojo told the club's website.

Ojo will take on an ambassadorial role for Irish, who secured promotion back to the Premiership last weekend, as they prepare to move to their new home at the Brentford Community Stadium next summer.

He added: "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 future on the horizon, and even though I won't be on the pitch any more, hopefully I can continue to make an impact off it."

Ojo first joined the club's academy in 2003 and went on to become an established member of the London Irish backline, playing in a Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse in 2008 and a Premiership final in 2009.

He scored twice on his Test debut against New Zealand in 2008 but only made one further England appearance.

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter says he has advised his players about their responsibilities on social media in the wake of the Israel Folau affair.

The full-back was sacked by Rugby Australia after a social media post in which he said "hell awaits" gay people.

England forward Billy Vunipola was reprimanded by the RFU after defending the post and was confronted by a fan in Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final.

"We've reminded the players about that," Baxter told BBC Sport.

"If you make a statement on social media, you're effectively making a statement just like I'm making one today to members of the press.

"It's all very well claiming it's your own opinion and the value you have of your own opinion and how much right you have to give your own opinion, but actually if you put it out there publicly you're making a statement about yourself."

The boss of the Premiership leaders added that players need to be aware that they are role models.

Baxter said: "The world is a different place now and we need to make sure that young sportsmen in particular just have an understanding that their opinions can be taken as statements of fact if they want to express them in that way.

"Most people don't say things deliberately in a bad context, but it's a reminder that they are important and influential people, and if you are an important and influential person you've got a responsibility about the things that you say."

Sale Sharks have signed South Africa second-row forward Lood de Jager from Super Rugby side Bulls.

De Jager, 26, has agreed a three-year deal and will link up with Sale before the 2019-20 Premiership season or, if selected, after the World Cup.

"It is a great honour for me to join Sale Sharks," De Jager, who is 6ft 9in, told the club's website.

"They are a club with great tradition, really high ambitions and they are building something really special."

Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond added: "Lood is a world-class line-out operator with lots of experience at the highest level and offers a huge physical presence around the pitch.

"His signing is a statement of intent in our endeavour to become a force in the Premiership and Europe over the next three years."

Five players from Champions Cup finalists Leinster and Saracens comprise the entire shortlist for the EPCR European Player of the Year award.

Leinster's nominees are Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose, while Saracens have Alex Goode and Mako Vunipola.

Leone Nakarawa of Racing 92 won in 2018.

The winner will be named following the European Champions Cup final at St James' Park on 11 May.

The chosen player will receive the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy.

Leinster are seeking to defend the Champions Cup and win it for a fifth time overall.

SPRINGFIELD, Mich. — When you ask a car guy, why he collects cars, the answer is generally because of a dedication to a certain brand or a memory that the car triggers.

For Jeff Begg, it was the love of engineering. Growing up in Michigan with the “Big Three” car manufacturers close by, there was always a car event or race in the area. Begg had many memories of fixing cars to race them later that night or just cruising. It was all this automotive activity that triggered his love of engineering and led to his creating what is now known as the JAB Collection.

Begg went to college for engineering and then went to work for Parker Hannifin as an engineer in the company’s hydraulics division. In 1976, he left and started his own business in the basement of his dad’s veterinary clinic.

His first product was a basic wooden battery box for Clark Forklifts. Begg loved British motorcycles. He would say, “Anyone can have an Indian, but a British bike is special.”

He saw them as engineering marvels and in-turn honored his love of British and unique bikes by naming his companies after them. Marshall Excelsior Company, was the name of his first company, after Excelsior Henderson motorcycles. The company grew forcing him to move out of the basement into a Quonset building next to the in Marshall, Mich.

Pictures, video and an inventory list of the JAB Collection are available from www.vanderbrinkauctions.com, or by calling 605-201-7005. Everything will be sold on June 15.

Begg began producing propane fittings and valves. The Quonset building was a good starting point, but wasn’t the best or prettiest location. Begg was often at odds with the city of Marshall, which owned the building. They saw it as an eyesore and wanted it gone.

Eventually, the city evicted him and in exchange sold him a lot in a nearby industrial park for $1.

In 1999, he built a new building for his business on that same lot.

Begg wasn’t one to draw attention to himself, but through some unusual twists he became known as John Begg, which was his younger brother’s name, in the propane world. He would be at trade shows and his girlfriend would call him Jeff and nobody would know who that was.

Not only did he get a kick out that, he was able to keep some anonymity. It wasn’t till he sold the business in 2017, that he told his brother about the charade.

As the business grew, he acquired more product lines and businesses to better serve his customers. If you ever used a propane tank, one of his fittings, valves or regulators was probably on it. He acquired part of Lincoln Brass Works and named this company after another British Motorcycle — Matchless Valve Company.

Begg was extremely competitive and wanted always to be on the cutting edge. He found out a competing business in town had developed a machine to make similar fittings cheaper. Not backing down or settling for second place, he grabbed one of his engineers and marched into their plant and started taking notes until they were shown the door by security.

If you met Begg on the street, you’d have never known he was a hugely successful business man. Most of the time, he was in tattered or stained clothes driving an old Cadillac. He constantly surrounded himself with books and education.

His mind was going 50 different directions all the time. He had a daughter, Megan, and to be better at “girl time,” he would read gossip mags and learn what she liked. If she liked a particular film, he would learn about it and take her to see it. She was the love of his life and enjoyed spending time with her.

It was crazy, this rough around the edges man would bring her the perfect dress and know everything about it. He was excited to learn he was going to be a grandpa, but sadly died a month before the birth.

Begg lost his wife, Barbara, in 2003. She was an enthusiastic eBay buyer, so he had to close out her affairs. Little did he know that process would start a new love — the thrill of being the “winning bidder.”

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – After sitting out the first portion of the season to focus on his education, Cole Glasson is ready to get back in a race car.

The 18-year-old, who has maintained a 4.0 GPA at Liberty University, will make his second ARCA Menards Series start on May 23 at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Win-Tron Racing.

Glasson’s race car will carry support from Sparrow Ranch on the Island and AM Technical Solutions.

“I’ve been busy focusing on my education, but I’m excited to get back in a race car to compete at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May,” said Glasson. “With summer coming up I knew I wanted to get back to racing, so I can’t thank Kevin Cywinski and Win-Tron Racing enough for having me back for another race.”

Glasson made his ARCA Menards Series debut last year driving for Win-Tron Racing in the season finale at Kansas Speedway. He raced in the top-10 throughout the evening, and was in the top-five late in the race when he ran through some fluid on the track and bounced off the wall.

Despite the damage, Glasson managed to pilot his No. 33 Chevrolet to a 10th-place finish in his first ARCA start. He’ll look to improve upon that finish on May 23 at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the General Tire 150.

In preparation, Glasson is scheduled to take part in the ARCA Menards Series open test at Charlotte on May 7.

“We had such a fast car last year at Kansas,” added Glasson. “We should have finished in the top-five, but that contact with the wall late in the race cost us. I know Win-Tron Racing is capable of preparing incredible race cars and I have no doubt I’ll be able to do that again when we get to Charlotte.”

Between now and his second ARCA start Glasson is going to remain busy. He still has a few weeks left of school before summer vacation starts.

Once he’s out of school for the summer he’ll rejoin Lee Faulk Racing and Development – the same team that he has raced late models for in years past – for a test before he competes at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway on May 11.

“I’ve really missed being in a race car,” Glasson said. “On top of getting to run the ARCA race at Charlotte I also plan to run a few races with LFR in a Late Model when my schedule allows.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to add a few more ARCA races to my schedule this summer, but for now we’re going to focus on Charlotte.”

Win-Tron Racing team owner Kevin Cywinski is excited to have Glasson back on the team after his strong debut last fall at Kansas.

“Cole did an incredible job in his first ARCA race with us last year, so I’m thrilled to welcome him back for another race at Charlotte in May,” offered Cywinski. “We’ll get him up to speed during the open test in a few weeks and based on his effort at Kansas, we’re confident he’ll be competitive again at Charlotte. He’s a smart young man, so we know he’ll do a great job.”

CONCORD, N.C. — Speedway Motorsports Inc. officials announced Thursday that Sonic Financial Corp., a company owned by O. Bruton Smith and his family, has made a non-binding offer to purchase all outstanding shares of SMI common stock.

Smith is the founder and majority stakeholder of SMI, which operates eight tracks holding dates on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule.

The offer is similar in nature to an offer made by NASCAR in November to acquire all outstanding shares of Class A and Class B stock of International Speedway Corp., with the intention of taking that track-operation company private.

If Sonic’s offer of $18 per share is accepted and approved, it would make Speedway Motorsports a privately held company. The offer must be approved by the holders of a majority of the common stock not owned by the Smith family.

SMI’s board has formed a special committee — comprised of Mark M. Gambill, James P. Holden and Tom E. Smith — to consider the Sonic offer.

Of note, Tom E. Smith is not related to Bruton Smith or his family.

Sonic Financial Corp. spelled out reasoning for making its offer in a letter to the SMI Board of Directors.

“As you know, NASCAR racing has faced several challenges in recent years, and the company has been impacted by these challenges,” read the letter. “NASCAR has indicated the sport would benefit from structural change.”

In addition to the approval of a majority of the common stockholders, a special committee of independent and disinterested directors must also approve the sale of stock.

SMI will continue to operate as it has in the past until both conditions are met.

“The company cautions stockholders and others considering trading in its securities that the Board has only received the non-binding proposal letter from Sonic Financial, and no decisions have been made by the Special Committee with respect to the company’s response to the proposal,” read an SMI release.

“There can be no assurance that any definitive offer will be made, that any agreement will be executed or that this or any other transaction will be approved or consummated.”

FRENCHTOWN, N.J. — In racing, there’s always a hot new idea or trend that everyone just has to have.

A new part or chassis design will come along and once someone wins with it, everyone will instantly jump on board. It could be something completely unheard of or something old that’s made its way back around again.

It can be something as simple as the graphic styles on the race car or something more complex like the design of the rear suspension.

Just like anything else in life, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve and paying attention to the trends.

The biggest recent development in dirt modified racing is that J-Bars and 4-links have made their way back into the picture. These are things that some people were winning races with two decades ago.

BOSTON -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy is aware that Boston fans sometimes have a love-hate relationship with longtime goaltender Tuukka Rask.

After Rask's resounding Game 7 performance on Tuesday night, Cassidy said: "Hopefully he's converted a few.

"I hope fans recognize what he did tonight. I think you have to, as a fan, acknowledge when a player plays well. I know in this town when you don't, you hear about it -- that's fine, too. But tonight he played well, and hopefully the people get behind him."

Rask stopped 32 of 33 shots as Boston defeated Toronto, 5-1, in Game 7 of their first-round series. It's the second straight year Toronto's season ended in this fashion.

Boston's first three goals were scored by bottom-six forwards -- Joakim Nordstrom, Marcus Johansson and Sean Kuraly -- but the star of the night was Rask, the 32-year-old Finn.

"Hopefully, he can continue to build on his playoff legacy. It's a big Game 7 win," Cassidy said. "I believe he was our best player."

Rask's cap hit is $7 million, which is the fourth-highest among goalies in the league. Despite winning a Vezina Trophy in 2014, leading Boston to consistent regular-season success and long playoff runs, Rask is often polarizing among fans. It began in the 2010 playoffs, when Rask allowed 15 goals in four games as the Flyers became the third team in NHL history to come back from a deficit of 0-3 to win a playoff series.

When asked if a Game 7 will help cement his legacy, Rask said: "The big audience will decide that. I just try to prepare myself the same way every game. It helps with experience, you don't want to get too high or too low."

Rask posted a .928 save percentage in the seven-game series, with a 2.32 GAA.

The Bruins limited Rask's workload this season, thanks in part to strong play from backup Jaroslav Halak. Rask took a brief leave of absence for personal reasons in November and also missed 12 days in January after sustaining a concussion. Rask started only 45 games -- his fewest since becoming Boston's regular starter. It was down from his 53 starts last season and significantly down from his career-high of 67 starts (and 70 appearances) in 2014-15.

"We limited his workload this year and wondered how it was going to affect him in the playoffs," Cassidy said. "And I think tonight, hopefully, we got some residual effects of that."

"The workload hasn't been too much," Rask said. "So I feel fresh."

Rask especially shined in the second period, as Toronto amped up the pressure with 13 shots on goal. "We broke down, we had a tough time getting the puck out of our own zone," Cassidy said. "He was there for us."

Added captain Zdeno Chara: "They were putting a lot of pucks on net, in the slot, a lot of shots, rebounds, and I thought he was in good position and controlling the rebounds and the shots. I thought he was obviously a difference-maker."

Toronto has lost each of its last three Game 7s -- all against the Bruins. No team in Stanley Cup playoff history has lost three straight winner-take-all games to the same opponent. The only other team in NHL, MLB and NBA playoff history to lose three consecutive winner-take-all games to the same opponent is the Pat Riley-led Miami Heat against the Knicks from 1998 to 2000.

The Bruins will now face the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round, with Game 1 on Thursday night. The Blue Jackets beat the NHL's top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning in a shocking first-round sweep. Tampa Bay had matched the NHL record for regular-season wins, with 62.