Leicester's Captain Ollie Chessum Secures Expedited Reinstatement Permission

The Tigers new team skipper Ollie Chessum has received approval to resume playing to domestic action against Harlequins this weekend. Although the majority of British & Irish Lions squad members are barred from returning to club play until the following week, the Tigers forward has secured special dispensation.

Chessum, who was injured for a large chunk of the previous campaign, ended up starting 16 games and featured from the replacements in a handful of games. Despite taking part in every Lions Test match versus Australia, the player management load group managing the well-being of top players has permitted him to compete against Harlequins at their home ground in the next fixture.

Contrasting Situations for Lions Teammates

Harlequins, in contrast, will lack Chessum’s fellow Lion Marcus Smith, who must wait one more week until he can resume. In contrast to Owen Farrell, who was similarly absent for much of last season and returned for his club's first league match, Smith participated in a heavy schedule during the last campaign, comprising additional tour matches and is required to have a required downtime.

Drive from Previous Loss

Chessum, on the other hand, is eager to start and show that the Tigers can succeed in the new campaign in spite of the loss of the head coach and a number of experienced squad members. The Tigers featured in the league final last June, but Chessum says their thumping 80-12 European pool defeat by Toulouse is the game that has provided their primary inspiration. “It created a feeling of ‘We are never going to that place again’. No matter how we prepare, no matter how we are guided, no matter strategy, we are avoiding a repeat.”

“It is the most embarrassing loss in the team's record and to acknowledge participation is shameful truly. So, it hurts. You will forever remember and just ensure you avoid experiencing a outcome like that again.”

He added, “I remember Cheik was emotional in the changing room. The reason we were in the title decider earlier was due to what occurred after that fixture in Toulouse. There was a real change in all of us.”

Injury News from Other Teams

Bristol Bears, at the same time, have revealed they have lost first choice fly-half AJ McGinty for nine months after he suffered a setback in their first victory over Leicester. McGinty has gone under the knife on his heel on the very day that his half-back partner Harry Randall had to go for an operation on his thigh muscle. Randall should recover in the coming months, while the recovery timeline for wing Gabriel Itoye, who likewise hurt his hamstring in the same match and must undergo a procedure, is still to be confirmed.

The Blue, Black and White, for their part, have stuck with Max Ojomoh at fly-half for their fixture at home facing Sale Sharks on Friday. Sale, who similarly had a winning start to the term in the opening round, have made two enforced changes to their first team, with fresh personnel replacing the unavailable two key players respectively.