🔗 Share this article

Leicester Tigers new team skipper Ollie Chessum has received approval to make his return to league matches versus the Harlequins in the upcoming match. Although the vast bulk of British & Irish Lions squad members cannot resume to domestic rugby until next week, the Tigers forward has secured special dispensation.

Chessum, who suffered an injury for a significant portion of last season, began in a limited number of fixtures and appeared off the bench in a handful of games. Despite participating in all three Lions Tests against the Wallabies, the player welfare committee managing the health of star performers has permitted him to face Harlequins at their home ground on Saturday.

Contrasting Situations for Lions Teammates

Harlequins, in contrast, will be missing Chessum’s Lions teammate Marcus Smith, who is required to postpone an additional week prior to his return. Unlike Owen Farrell, who was similarly absent for an extended period and returned for his club's first league match, Smith was involved in 34 matches in the previous term, including five non-Test Lions tour games and must take a required downtime.

Motivation from Past Defeat

Chessum, on the other hand, is eager to start and demonstrate that Leicester can thrive this season in spite of the loss of Michael Cheika and a number of key individuals. The Tigers reached the league final at the end of last season, but Chessum reveals their heavy 80-12 European Cup loss by Toulouse is the fixture that has given their primary inspiration. “It created a feeling of ‘We are never going to that place again’. No matter how we train, regardless of how we are guided, regardless of tactics, we are never going back.”

“That was the biggest setback in the franchise's past and to acknowledge participation is humiliating really. So, it stings. You will constantly reflect and just guarantee you steer clear of a score like that again.”

He continued, “I remember Cheik was visibly upset in the changing room. The reason we were in the title decider earlier was as a result of what transpired after that match in Toulouse. There was a noticeable transformation in every player.”

Fitness News from Other Teams

Bristol Bears, meanwhile, have disclosed they have lost primary fly-half AJ McGinty for nine months after he picked up a knock in their season opener over the Tigers. McGinty has gone under the knife on his achilles on the identical day that his half-back partner Harry Randall required an operation on his hamstring. Randall is expected to return in the new year, while the return date for outside back Gabriel Itoye, who likewise hurt his hamstring against Leicester and requires an operation, is still to be confirmed.

The Blue, Black and White, for their part, have stuck with Max Ojomoh at fly-half for their match at the Rec versus the Sharks on Friday. The Sharks, who similarly had a winning start to the season in the first round, have made a pair of compulsory adjustments to their starting XV, with Hyron Andrews and Sam Bedlow taking over from the injured Jacques Vermeulen and Rekeiti Ma’asi White respectively.