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The Tigers new team skipper Ollie Chessum has been cleared to resume playing to domestic action against Harlequins in the upcoming match. While the vast bulk of Lions tour squad members cannot resume to domestic rugby until next week, the lock has been granted an exception.

Chessum, who suffered an injury for much of the prior term, began in sixteen matches and featured from the replacements four times. Even though taking part in the full Lions series facing the Australian side, the welfare oversight panel managing the health of elite athletes has permitted him to compete against Harlequins at their home ground on Saturday.

Divergent Circumstances for Tour Colleagues

Harlequins, by comparison, will be missing Chessum’s tour colleague Marcus Smith, who has to delay an additional week prior to his return. Unlike Owen Farrell, who also missed time for an extended period and was reinstated for the start of the domestic season, Smith was involved in thirty-four games during the last campaign, including additional tour matches and must take a mandatory full 10-week break.

Drive from Previous Loss

Chessum, nevertheless, is keen to begin and prove that Leicester can prosper this season in spite of the exit of their former coach and multiple senior players. The Tigers featured in the domestic championship decider at the end of last season, but Chessum says their crushing lopsided European Cup loss by the French side is the game that has supplied their lasting drive. “There was just a sense of ‘We are never going to that place again’. No matter how we train, regardless of how we are coached, regardless of game plans, we are never going back.”

“That was the most embarrassing loss in the team's record and to admit involvement is humiliating really. So, it stings. You will forever remember and just make sure you steer clear of a score like that again.”

He continued, “I remember Cheik was almost in tears in the changing room. The factor we were in the final the previous season was as a result of what occurred after that match in Toulouse. There was a real change in the entire squad.”

Fitness Updates from Other Teams

Bristol Bears, in the meantime, have disclosed they have are missing 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 Achilles tendon on the same day that his scrum-half Harry Randall had to go for an operation on his thigh muscle. Randall is expected to return in the coming months, while the recovery timeline for wing Gabriel Itoye, who also injured his thigh in the same match and requires an operation, remains uncertain.

Bath, for their part, have stuck with Max Ojomoh at number ten for their match at the Rec versus the Sharks on Friday. Sale, who similarly had a winning start to the campaign in the first round, have made a pair of compulsory adjustments to their starting XV, with Hyron Andrews and Sam Bedlow stepping in for the unavailable the absent duo in turn.