Ollie Chessum risks Premiership final ban after dangerous tackle citing
England and Lions second row Ollie Chessum risks missing Leicester Tigers' Premiership play-off campaign after being cited for a dangerous tackle on Bath's Will Muir that could bring a three-match ban.
The incident occurred in the 10th minute of Leicester's 43-15 defeat at the Premiership leaders on Saturday night and was picked up by the officials. Referee Anthony Woodthorpe aided by David Rose, the television match official, chose only to show a yellow card to Chessum who made contact with the head of Bath wing Muir. On the referee microphone, Woodthorpe decided that the force of the impact had also been directed into Muir's chest.
However, an independent citing commissioner has chosen to recommend Chessum for a disciplinary hearing for an alleged breach of World Rugby Law 9.13. All head contacts carry a mandatory mid-range entry point so the entry point for any suspension would start at six weeks. This can be mitigated down by up to 50 per cent, but Chessum has already completed 'tackle school' having served a two-week ban for another high tackle on Clermont's Samuel Ezeala in a Champions Cup match in 2022.
Leicester have one regular season match remaining, at home to Newcastle Falcons on May 31, with Michael Cheika's side needing to win to be assured of a home semi-final. Should Leicester fail to make the final then Chessum, 24, would be in danger of missing the British and Irish Lions ' opening warm-up game against Argentina in Dublin on June 20 and a longer ban would rule him out of fixtures in Australia against Western Force and the Queensland Reds.
Bath hooker Tom Dunn was also yellow-carded during Saturday's game and Leicester head coach Cheika was frustrated by the over-reliance on technology in a first half that lasted 52 minutes. 'They have definitely got to get on top of what they are doing with what they go back for with the TMO because if you want to back through that game there's at least a few other head clashes in the game,' said Cheika. 'I thought both of them [yellow cards] were fine.' Privately, Leicester were particularly aggrieved that Bath second row Charlie Ewels' high challenge on Ollie Hassell-Collins was not picked up.
Meanwhile, England full-back George Furbank could make an unexpected return for Northampton Saints' Champions Cup final against Bordeaux on Saturday. Furbank broke his arm in Northampton's victory against Bulls in December but suffered a setback in his comeback game due to discomfort around the metal plate he had inserted.
Furbank, the club captain, trained on Tuesday and Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson will make a call on Thursday whether to include him in his match-day squad. Of greater concern is the fitness doubt over hooker Curtis Langdon who suffered a shoulder injury in the Premiership defeat of Saracens while second row Alex Coles and full-back James Ramm are also doubts.
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