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Leicester Tigers freshly appointed team skipper Ollie Chessum has been cleared to resume playing to domestic action against Harlequins on Saturday. While the majority of Lions tour squad members cannot resume to domestic rugby until a later date, the Leicester player has been granted unique permission.

Chessum, who spent time on the sidelines for a significant portion of the previous campaign, ended up starting 16 games and appeared as a substitute in a handful of games. Even though taking part in the full Lions series versus Australia, the player welfare committee supervising the well-being of top players has permitted him to face Harlequins at Welford Road in the next fixture.

Contrasting Circumstances for Squad Mates

The Quins, by comparison, will lack Chessum’s fellow Lion 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 34 matches in the previous term, including additional tour matches and is required to have a required downtime.

Drive from Historic Setback

Chessum, on the other hand, is keen to begin and show that the Tigers can succeed in the new campaign in spite of the loss of their former coach and multiple key individuals. Leicester competed in the league final in June, but Chessum says their heavy 80-12 European Cup loss by the French side is the fixture that has supplied their lasting drive. “There was just a sense of ‘We are never going to that place again’. Regardless of how we prepare, regardless of how we are guided, no matter game plans, we are avoiding a repeat.”

“That was the most embarrassing loss in the club’s history and to acknowledge participation is humiliating truly. So, it pains. You will forever remember and just make sure you avoid experiencing a score like that again.”

He added, “I remember Cheik was visibly upset in the dressing room. The reason we were in the title decider last year was as a result of what occurred after that fixture in Toulouse. There was a significant shift in all of us.”

Injury News from Other Clubs

Bristol, at the same time, have announced they have lost starting fly-half AJ McGinty for the season after he was injured in their first victory over Leicester. McGinty underwent an operation on his Achilles tendon on the very day that his number nine Harry Randall needed surgery on his thigh muscle. Randall will be back in the new year, while the return date for winger Gabriel Itoye, who also injured his thigh versus the Tigers and requires an operation, remains uncertain.

The Blue, Black and White, in their case, have retained Max Ojomoh at fly-half for their fixture at home facing Sale Sharks on the weekend's opener. The Sharks, who similarly had a successful opening to the season in the initial fixture, have made two enforced changes to their starting XV, with two new faces stepping in for the unavailable Jacques Vermeulen and Rekeiti Ma’asi White correspondingly.