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Leicester Tigers new club captain Ollie Chessum has been given the green light to come back to league matches against Harlequins on Saturday. While the greater part of British & Irish Lions squad members cannot resume to domestic rugby until the following week, the Tigers forward has secured an exception.

Chessum, who was injured for a large chunk of last season, only started 16 games and appeared from the replacements on four occasions. Even though participating in every Lions Test match facing the Australian side, the player management load group managing the condition of star performers has permitted him to compete against Harlequins at Leicester's stadium this weekend.

Divergent Circumstances for Tour Colleagues

The Quins, on the other hand, will have to do without Chessum’s tour colleague Marcus Smith, who must wait another week prior to his return. In contrast to Owen Farrell, who was similarly absent for a large part of the prior campaign and returned for Saracens’ opening Prem game, Smith participated in 34 matches in the previous term, comprising five Lions tour fixtures and must take a required downtime.

Drive from Past Defeat

Chessum, nevertheless, is eager to start and prove that the Tigers can prosper during the upcoming term despite the exit of their former coach and a number of experienced squad members. Leicester competed in the domestic championship decider at the end of last season, but Chessum says their heavy eighty to twelve European pool defeat by Toulouse is the game that has provided their lasting drive. “It created a feeling 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 not returning.”

“That was the worst defeat in the club’s history and to acknowledge participation is shameful really. So, it hurts. You will constantly reflect and just guarantee you avoid experiencing a score like that again.”

He continued, “I remember Cheik was emotional in the dressing room. The explanation we were in the final earlier was as a result of what happened after that game in Toulouse. There was a significant shift in every player.”

Injury News from Other Teams

Bristol Bears, meanwhile, have revealed they have will be without starting fly-half AJ McGinty for the season after he suffered a setback in their opening win over Leicester. McGinty underwent an operation on his heel on the identical day that his half-back partner Harry Randall needed surgery on his hamstring. Randall will be back in the early next year, while the return date for wing Gabriel Itoye, who likewise hurt his hamstring in the same match and needs surgery, has yet to be determined.

Bath, on their side, have stuck with Max Ojomoh at number ten for their fixture at home facing Sale Sharks on Friday. The Sharks, who also made a victorious beginning to the term in the first round, have made a pair of compulsory adjustments to their first team, with fresh personnel replacing the injured Jacques Vermeulen and Rekeiti Ma’asi White in turn.