Ollie Chessum says staying with Leicester Tigers was an easy decision, saying he could not picture himself wearing another club’s badge. The England and British and Irish Lions lock has signed a new two-year contract with the club where he came through the academy.
Chessum, 26, made his Tigers debut in August 2020 and has since played 89 times for the East Midlands side. He told BBC Radio Leicester that he loved playing for Leicester and that recommitting to the club felt like a straightforward choice.
The second-year captain’s season began late as he recovered from a foot injury. He scored on his return in a heavy European Champions Cup defeat at Pau, then led Leicester to consecutive Premiership victories over Northampton and Bristol. Those results put the Tigers top of the table.
Chessum said he had enjoyed captaining the group and viewed leadership as an ongoing process of improvement. Head coach Geoff Parling has emphasised that his first responsibility as captain is to perform well on the pitch, Chessum added.
Sources: BBC Sport.