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Leicester Tigers new team skipper Ollie Chessum has been cleared to make his return to domestic action facing the Quins in the upcoming match. Although the greater part of Lions tour squad members are barred from returning to club play until next week, the Tigers forward has been granted an exception.

Chessum, who spent time on the sidelines for much of the previous campaign, only started sixteen matches and appeared as a substitute four times. Even though taking part in the full Lions series facing the Australian side, the welfare oversight panel overseeing the health of star performers has allowed him to face Harlequins at Leicester's stadium on Saturday.

Divergent Circumstances for Squad Mates

The Quins, on the other hand, will be missing Chessum’s Lions teammate Marcus Smith, who must wait an additional week before rejoining the fray. In contrast to Owen Farrell, who was also sidelined for a large part of the prior campaign and made his comeback for Saracens’ opening Prem game, Smith was involved in thirty-four games during the last campaign, featuring five non-Test Lions tour games and needs to complete a mandatory full 10-week break.

Motivation from Historic Setback

Chessum, however, is keen to begin and show that Leicester can prosper in the new campaign despite the departure of the head coach and multiple experienced squad members. The Tigers featured in the domestic championship decider in June, but Chessum reveals their heavy 80-12 continental competition setback by Toulouse is the fixture that has provided their lasting drive. “We felt strongly of ‘We are never going to that place again’. No matter how we get ready, regardless of how we are guided, regardless of game plans, we are avoiding a repeat.”

“That was the biggest setback in the club’s history and to say you were part of that is shameful really. So, it hurts. You will always look back and just make sure you never go through a result like that again.”

He continued, “I recall Cheik was visibly upset in the dressing room. The factor we were in the title decider the previous season was because of what transpired after that fixture in Toulouse. There was a significant shift in the entire squad.”

Injury News from Rival Clubs

Bristol Bears, in the meantime, have announced they have will be without starting number ten AJ McGinty for nine months after he picked up a knock in their season opener over the Tigers. McGinty has had surgery on his achilles on the identical day that his number nine Harry Randall required an operation on his thigh muscle. Randall will be back in the coming months, while the recovery timeline for winger Gabriel Itoye, who similarly damaged his hamstring against Leicester and needs surgery, remains uncertain.

Bath, on their side, have stuck with Max Ojomoh at number ten for their fixture at home facing Sale Sharks on Friday night. The Sharks, who similarly had a successful opening to the season in the opening round, have made a pair of compulsory adjustments to their first team, with two new faces stepping in for the unavailable the absent duo respectively.