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What most impresses Leicester about breakthrough 21-year-old lock

(Photo by Stephen White/CameraSport via Getty Images)

When it comes to Tigers and conversations about talent emerging from their academy, new England star Freddie Steward has hogged the headlines in 2021. However, he hasn’t been the only young gun to quickly come of age as second-rower Ollie Chessum has played his recent part in helping Leicester to lead the way in this season’s Gallagher Premiership and get their Champions Cup campaign started with a win in France last weekend.  

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The forward has featured in eight of his club’s ten league and European games so far in the 2021/22 campaign, starting in the wins over Saracens, Northampton, Bath and Bordeaux while also adding his heft off the bench in the successes against Exeter, Gloucester, Worcester and Harlequins. 

Having picked up the game at Kesteven, Chessum accelerated his Tigers academy apprenticeship by detouring to Championship club Nottingham and the stripes earned there in the English second tier has provided the 6ft 7in, 118kg forward with the gas to now make an impressive breakthrough under Borthwick back at Leicester. 

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What happened when RugbyPass went behind the scenes at the Leicester Tigers academy

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What happened when RugbyPass went behind the scenes at the Leicester Tigers academy

“Great lad,” said the coach when asked about the impact of the youngster who has become a regular selection in recent months following fleeing previous involvement. “He has got a younger brother (Lewis, another lock) also coming through the system who has a lot of potential also. 

“But a fantastic character who has worked really hard at his game. It hasn’t been a straight path for him. He has gone a different way. Played at Nottingham the year before last and shone there as a young man and then he has come in and worked hard to improve himself physically. His attitude to work has always been excellent but his desire and focus to improve have been really impressive and you saw that on the pitch.

“I don’t think there is one label you can fit everybody with. You look at each individual on a case by case basis, where are their strengths, where are their areas to improve, how do you need to coach them to get more out of them and that can be different on a daily basis as well. But asking me about Olly Chessum specifically, he has shown a huge amount of perseverance. You talk about grasping opportunities, he is one that every time you give him an opportunity he jumps at it,” added Borthwick, whose unbeaten Leicester side this weekend takes on Connacht in round two of Europe.

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Nickers 15 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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