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Leicester Tigers freshly appointed club captain Ollie Chessum has received approval to resume playing to domestic action against Harlequins on Saturday. While the vast bulk of British & Irish Lions squad members cannot resume to domestic rugby until a later date, the Leicester player has been granted special dispensation.

Chessum, who was injured for a large chunk of the previous campaign, began in a limited number of fixtures and came on from the replacements in a handful of games. Despite participating in all three Lions Tests against the Wallabies, the player welfare committee managing the health of elite athletes has permitted him to take on Harlequins at Leicester's stadium in the next fixture.

Contrasting Circumstances for Lions Teammates

Harlequins, in contrast, will have to do without Chessum’s tour colleague Marcus Smith, who is required to postpone one more week prior to his return. Unlike Owen Farrell, who was also sidelined for much of last season and made his comeback for Saracens’ opening Prem game, Smith was involved in thirty-four games during the last campaign, comprising additional tour matches and is required to have a required downtime.

Drive from Historic Setback

Chessum, on the other hand, is eager to start and prove that the Tigers can prosper in the new campaign despite the loss of Michael Cheika and several senior players. The Tigers reached the league final last June, but Chessum reveals their heavy 80-12 European pool defeat by the French side is the game that has given their most enduring motivation. “It created a feeling of ‘We are never going to that place again’. No matter how we prepare, regardless of how we are instructed, regardless of tactics, we are avoiding a repeat.”

“That was the worst defeat in the franchise's past and to say you were part of that is humiliating really. So, it pains. You will always look back and just guarantee you never go through a result like that again.”

He stated, “I recall Cheik was almost in tears in the changing room. The factor we were in the final the previous season was due to what transpired after that fixture in Toulouse. There was a real change in every player.”

Injury Updates from Other Teams

Bristol Bears, at the same time, have revealed they have lost first choice number ten AJ McGinty for the season after he suffered a setback in their opening win over the Tigers. McGinty has had surgery on his achilles on the same day that his half-back partner Harry Randall had to go for an operation on his thigh muscle. Randall will be back in the early next year, while the recovery timeline for outside back Gabriel Itoye, who likewise hurt his hamstring against Leicester and must undergo a procedure, remains uncertain.

Bath, on their side, have kept Max Ojomoh at number ten for their home game versus the Sharks on Friday night. Sale, who also made a successful opening to the season in the first round, have made several necessary alterations to their first team, with two new faces taking over from the injured Jacques Vermeulen and Rekeiti Ma’asi White correspondingly.