Latest news with #OllieChessum
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Ollie Chessum cleared for Premiership play-offs and Lions tour as citing dismissed
Ollie Chessum has been cleared to play in the remainder of the Premiership season after a citing against the Leicester Tigers lock was dismissed. A ban had been looming for Chessum after the citing commissioner had picked up a high tackle made in Tigers' defeat to Bath at The Rec. The second row had been given a yellow card by referee Anthony Woodthorpe on the day after consultation with the television match official, but a citing suggested that his sanction may be upgraded to a red. That raised the prospect of the 24-year-old facing a three-match that would have ruled him out of the remainder of his club campaign, including the Premiership final if Leicester make it. Alternately, Chessum may have missed the British and Irish Lions opening encounter with Argentina in Dublin. But the independent disciplinary panel has dismissed a charge of dangerous tackling, deeming that the challenge had not been at a high level of danger and leaving Chessum free to play immediately. He will therefore be able to feature in Leicester's final Premiership game against Newcastle, with Michael Cheika 's men requiring a victory to secure a home semi-final. Cheika will depart at the end of the season with former Tigers lock Geoff Parling set to replace the head coach at Welford Road. Parling will be part of the Wallabies staff during the Lions series, and Chessum admitted last week that his incoming boss had kept communication to a minimum. Chessum said': '[It's been] very brief, just a short message – he congratulated me and he sent us a message about the result the other day. There's been minimal contact but I am looking forward to working with him. 'It is going to be a strange one, he's coming over to Tigers but he is going to be part of the Australia set-up until the end of this tour. It will be a bit of a strange atmosphere but I am looking forward to working with him.'
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
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.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Flat whites in the car park, a team social and a kit giveaway... Inside the British & Irish Lions' first get together ahead of summer tour of Australia
The coffee van in the car park of the Richmond Hill Hotel did a roaring trade on Sunday morning. The venue's clientele was certainly different to normal. Flat whites were the order of the day as the British & Irish Lions squad for this summer's tour of Australia met for the first time. The sight of Sale and England's Tom Curry sipping coffee with Glasgow and Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu summed up everything that is great about the Lions concept. Usually on-field rivals, in the months to come Curry and Tuipulotu will be brothers in arms as Andy Farrell's travelling party attempt to take down Joe Schmidt 's Wallabies in their own backyard. 'It's like a first day of school,' Leicester and England lock Ollie Chessum said of the 2025 Lions' initial get together in London. 'I've chatted to a few of the boys over a coffee but not spoken to everyone. 'It's a little bit awkward. I'm sure everyone will settle in soon. We've got a team get together tonight, so that'll be nice to get to know everyone better.' This was the first time many of Farrell's squad had met and it did, inevitably, have a slightly uncomfortable feeling. But if there is one way to bring modern rugby players together, it is through coffee. Soon enough, national allegiances began to dissipate. Scottish and Irish players, many of whom had been involved in the Leinster-Glasgow United Rugby Championship clash on Saturday, arrived in the same minibus. Unsurprisingly, it was superstar fly-half Finn Russell who was stopped first for a picture. The slightly off-white nature of the Lions official socks was discussed. Maverick England prop Will Stuart had gambled on receiving new trainers. When he realised a set wasn't part of the arrival pack, he was left to partner his training gear with an unusual pair of brogues. 'This is the pinnacle of rugby for a UK and Irish-based player,' said Chessum, one of 13 Englishmen in the 38-man squad. 'But when you're here, you want to be involved in those Test matches and perform on the biggest stage. 'When you make your international debut, you want to keep building to the next step. 'But making my international debut, I thought 'I am so out of my depth here. How do lads go from international rugby to being the best of that bunch?' That's what this is. 'Four years ago, I would probably have laughed in your face if you told me I would be here.' Head coach Farrell confirmed his Lions party on May 8. The next step was a two-day camp which began on Sunday at which all 38 players were present at one point or another. The squad took part in head shots for commercial and television purposes, got to know each other, and received some of their Lions kit for the first time. A team social was planned for Sunday night. 'I haven't got one yet, but apparently there are a few goodies in there,' Ireland wing James Lowe said of the hotly-anticipated stash of Lions clothing. 'Someone said we get an iPad, so if we can make sure there is one of those in every bag that would be great!' With Farrell's players involved in domestic games all over Europe and even further afield this weekend, the squad arrived in dribs and drabs. Marcus Smith hotfooted it across West London on Sunday evening, making the short trip from Twickenham to Richmond after Harlequins sealed a thrilling win over Exeter at The Stoop in the Gallagher Premiership. Jac Morgan, one of only two Welsh players in the squad alongside Tomos Williams, was a late arrival on Sunday after flying in from club duty with the Ospreys in South Africa. Farrell, his assistant coaches and the whole Lions backroom team were all present too. There might be minimal Welsh playing representation on the tour. But there are Wales members in Farrell's staff. Analyst Rhodri Bown, doctor Geoff Davies and physiotherapist John Miles all have previous experience of past Lions tours. 'It's awesome to come together with the guys from different clubs and unions,' Lowe said. 'We've come from similar backgrounds and understandings of the game. There's no one you're avoiding. We're definitely going to do our best to socialise with other people. 'Tommy Freeman is an exceptional winger. We've played against each other a few times now and it'll be interesting to chat to him and get to know him on a personal level. 'It's the same with Duhan van der Merwe and Elliot Daly. It's his (Daly's) third Lions tour and he's been around the block and understands how these things work. He has a wealth of knowledge and is a left-footer, so I'll be picking his brains.' Lowe also welcomed the presence of his former Leinster and Ireland team-mate Johnny Sexton who will be an assistant coach to Farrell on this Lions tour. The Lions' first game before flying to Australia is against Argentina in Dublin on June 20. 'He's so intense. He's scary as anything, still,' Lowe said of ex-fly-half Sexton who was a Lions Test regular as a player in 2013 and 2017. 'I've never met a man who's constantly so intense. It's funny because Manchester United aren't so flash at the moment and he's United till he dies. 'You can sledge him about that. He's a great lad with a wealth of knowledge and a few tours under his belt. He's so harsh in how he tries to prepare you for a game. 'He's got an aura about him and it's not nice when he's screaming at you. 'You try to get on his good side!'
Powys County Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Ollie Chessum says British and Irish Lions meet-up ‘like a first day of school'
England lock Ollie Chessum savoured a 'first day of school' feeling as the British and Irish Lions assembled for the first time ahead of this summer's tour of Australia. Andy Farrell's 38-man squad were kitted out on Sunday morning in south-west London – 10 days on from discovering news of their inclusion. The Lions' warm-up matches begin with a Dublin appointment against Argentina on June 20, with the first Test with the Wallabies scheduled for July 19 in Brisbane. Ready for the players! 🔴🙌 #Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 18, 2025 'I've chatted to a few of the boys, everyone's had a meet up and a coffee,' said Chessum. 'There's still a bit of awkwardness there, like a first day of school, but I'm sure everyone will settle in soon. 'We've got a team get-together tonight which will be good to get to know everyone better. 'It's pretty cool wearing the kit for the first time. 'This is the pinnacle of rugby for a UK and Irish based player. You want to be involved in those Test matches and the reason everyone is here is because they perform on the biggest stage.' Chessum is one of six second rows selected by head coach Farrell, alongside international team-mate and Lions captain Maro Itoje, Ireland trio Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan, and Scotland's Scott Cummings. The 24-year-old Leicester player, who has 28 England caps and made his international debut during the 2022 Six Nations, admits the prospect of Lions selection felt laughable until fairly recently. 'When you make your international debut, you want to keep building to that next step, but I thought there's no way,' said Chessum, who began his career with Nottingham. 'Even though I'd played my international debut, I thought 'I'm so out of my depth here, how do lads go from international rugby to being the best of that bunch?'. 'Four years ago, I'd probably have laughed in your face if you told me I would be here. But I'm over the moon. 'Everyone has got their own journey and I'm not going to knock mine, it's got me here.' Great to see you, lads! 👋🦁 #Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) May 18, 2025 England head coach Steve Borthwick, who handed Chessum his Leicester debut in 2020, was among those to offer congratulations following the selection announcement on May 8. Future Tigers boss Geoff Parling will be in direct opposition to Chessum this summer in his role as Wallabies assistant coach before replacing Michael Cheika at Mattioli Woods Welford Road next season.
The Independent
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Ollie Chessum says British and Irish Lions meet-up ‘like a first day of school'
England lock Ollie Chessum savoured a 'first day of school' feeling as the British and Irish Lions assembled for the first time ahead of this summer's tour of Australia. Andy Farrell's 38-man squad were kitted out on Sunday morning in south-west London – 10 days on from discovering news of their inclusion. The Lions' warm-up matches begin with a Dublin appointment against Argentina on June 20, with the first Test with the Wallabies scheduled for July 19 in Brisbane. 'I've chatted to a few of the boys, everyone's had a meet up and a coffee,' said Chessum. 'There's still a bit of awkwardness there, like a first day of school, but I'm sure everyone will settle in soon. 'We've got a team get-together tonight which will be good to get to know everyone better. 'It's pretty cool wearing the kit for the first time. 'This is the pinnacle of rugby for a UK and Irish based player. You want to be involved in those Test matches and the reason everyone is here is because they perform on the biggest stage.' Chessum is one of six second rows selected by head coach Farrell, alongside international team-mate and Lions captain Maro Itoje, Ireland trio Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan, and Scotland's Scott Cummings. The 24-year-old Leicester player, who has 28 England caps and made his international debut during the 2022 Six Nations, admits the prospect of Lions selection felt laughable until fairly recently. 'When you make your international debut, you want to keep building to that next step, but I thought there's no way,' said Chessum, who began his career with Nottingham. 'Even though I'd played my international debut, I thought 'I'm so out of my depth here, how do lads go from international rugby to being the best of that bunch?'. 'Four years ago, I'd probably have laughed in your face if you told me I would be here. But I'm over the moon. 'Everyone has got their own journey and I'm not going to knock mine, it's got me here.' England head coach Steve Borthwick, who handed Chessum his Leicester debut in 2020, was among those to offer congratulations following the selection announcement on May 8. Future Tigers boss Geoff Parling will be in direct opposition to Chessum this summer in his role as Wallabies assistant coach before replacing Michael Cheika at Mattioli Woods Welford Road next season. 'It will be a bit of a strange atmosphere but I am looking forward to working with him,' Chessum said of Parling, who toured Australia with the Lions in 2013.
