REUTERS SPORTS SCHEDULE AT 6.30 p.m.GMT/2.30 p.m.ET

Here are the top sports stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 6.30 p.m.GMT/2.30 p.m.ET For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect https://www.reutersconnect.com/planning or on Media Express http://mediaexpress.reuters.com/planning-tools/calendar. TOP STORIES

SPORTS TENNIS-MONTECARLO/

Nadal, Djokovic ease into Monte Carlo quarter-finals Champion Rafael Nadal and top-ranked Novak Djokovic turned in impressive displays to reach the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Thursday.

BASKETBALL-NBA-BKN-EMBIID-ELBOW/ Nets player: Embiid’s laughing apology over elbow ‘disrespectful’

Some Brooklyn Nets players are unhappy with the laughing apology given by Philadelphia center Joel Embiid over the elbow he delivered in Game 2, calling it “disrespectful.” SOCCER-CHAMPIONS-MCI-TOT/

Welcome to the era of the 'provisional goal' There are great goals, lucky goals, own goals, winning goals and now, in the era of VAR, we have the 'provisional goal'.

UPCOMING SOCCER

SOCCER-EUROPA-VAL-VIL/REPORT Soccer - Europa League - Valencia v Villarreal

Valencia host Villarreal in the second leg of an all-Spanish Europa League quarter-final tie. 18 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND/RACISM (PIX) Soccer-Players to boycott social media for 24 hours in racism protest

Leading Premier League players on Thursday have backed the Professional Footballers' Association's (PFA) campaign to boycott social media for 24 hours in a stand against racism. 18 Apr 14:30 ET / 18:30 GMT

SOCCER-EUROPA-SLB-SGE/REPORT Soccer - Europa League - Eintracht Frankfurt v Benfica

Eintracht Frankfurt host Benfica in a Europa League quarter-final, second leg match 18 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-EUROPA-NAP-ARS/REPORT Soccer - Europa League - Napoli v Arsenal

Napoli host Arsenal in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final 18 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-EUROPA-CHE-SLP/REPORT Soccer - Europa League - Chelsea v Slavia Prague

.Chelsea play Slavia Prague in the second leg of their Europa league quarter-final 18 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-SPAIN-FCB/DUGGAN (PIX, TV) (PIX) (TV) Soccer - Spain - Interview with Barcelona and England Women's striker Toni Duggan

An exclusive interview with Barcelona and England Women's striker Toni Duggan. 19 Apr 10:00 ET / 14:00 GMT

TENNIS TENNIS-MONTECARLO/ (PIX) (TV)

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters Action from the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France.

19 Apr 05:00 ET / 09:00 GMT RUGBY

RUGBY-UNION-SUPER/CHIEFS Rugby-Chiefs v Lions

The Waikato Chiefs are looking to continue their four-match unbeaten run without the injured Damian McKenzie, whose move to fullback from flyhalf sparked their turnaround after beginning the season with four losses, when they host the Lions in Hamilton. 19 Apr 05:30 ET / 09:30 GMT

RUGBY-UNION-SUPER/ Rugby - Super Rugby Week 10

Super rugby week 10 19 Apr 05:30 ET / 09:30 GMT

RUGBY-UNION-SUPER/SHARKS (PIX) Rugby - Super Rugby - Sharks v Reds

The Sharks host the Queensland Reds at King's Park in Durban looking to go top of Super Rugby's South African conference 19 Apr 09:00 ET / 13:00 GMT

RUGBY-UNION-WORLDCUP/POLICE Rugby-Organisers confident policing, beer ready for Rugby World Cup onslaught

Organisers of the 2019 Japan Rugby World Cup believe that a recent road trip, described by one official as “a mission”, has successfully relayed the message to all 12 host cities that copious amount of beer and soft policing is needed to ensure a successful, peaceful tournament. 19 Apr

GOLF GOLF-HERITAGE/

Golf - PGA Tour: Second round of Heritage Coverage of second round of the PGA Tour event at Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

19 Apr FOOTBALL-NFL-NOTEBOOK

NFL notebook-Field Level Media News and notes from around the NFL.

18 Apr 20:00 ET/00:00 GMT