Tigers' Skipper Ollie Chessum Gets Early Comeback Permission
The Tigers new club captain Ollie Chessum has been cleared to resume playing to league matches against Harlequins in the upcoming match. Although the majority of Lions tour squad members are barred from returning to their clubs until a later date, the lock has secured unique permission.
Chessum, who suffered an injury for a large chunk of the prior term, began in sixteen matches and appeared off the bench four times. Despite taking part in the full Lions series versus Australia, the player welfare committee overseeing the condition of top players has authorized him to compete against Harlequins at their home ground on Saturday.
Divergent Situations for Squad Mates
Harlequins, by comparison, will have to do without Chessum’s fellow Lion Marcus Smith, who is required to postpone one more week before rejoining the fray. In contrast to Owen Farrell, who also missed time for a large part of the prior campaign and made his comeback for his club's first league match, Smith was involved in a heavy schedule last season, comprising five non-Test Lions tour games and must take a compulsory rest period.
Motivation from Previous Loss
Chessum, nevertheless, is eager to start and prove that Leicester can thrive during the upcoming term despite the departure of Michael Cheika and several senior players. Leicester competed in the Prem final in June, but Chessum reveals their heavy eighty to twelve continental competition setback by Toulouse is the fixture that has given their most enduring motivation. “We felt strongly of ‘We are never going to that place again’. Regardless of how we prepare, regardless of how we are guided, regardless of game plans, we are avoiding a repeat.”
“That was the most embarrassing loss in the franchise's past and to say you were part of that is embarrassing honestly. So, it hurts. You will constantly reflect and just ensure you never go through a outcome like that again.”
He added, “I remember Cheik was visibly upset in the locker room. The factor we were in the final the previous season was due to what occurred after that game in Toulouse. There was a noticeable transformation in all of us.”
Injury Updates from Rival Clubs
Bristol, in the meantime, have announced they have will be without first choice playmaker AJ McGinty for nine months after he picked up a knock in their first victory over Leicester. McGinty underwent an operation on his achilles on the same day that his number nine Harry Randall needed surgery on his hamstring. Randall should recover in the early next year, while the recovery timeline for wing Gabriel Itoye, who also injured his hamstring against Leicester and requires an operation, remains uncertain.
The Blue, Black and White, in their case, have stuck with Max Ojomoh at stand-off for their fixture at home versus the Sharks on Friday. Sale, who similarly had a victorious beginning to the campaign in the opening round, have made a pair of compulsory adjustments to their first team, with fresh personnel taking over from the unavailable Jacques Vermeulen and Rekeiti Ma’asi White correspondingly.
