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The Tigers new team skipper Ollie Chessum has been cleared to make his return to domestic action against Harlequins this weekend. While the vast bulk of British & Irish Lions squad members are barred from returning to club play until the following week, the lock has been granted unique permission.

The 25-year-old, who was injured for much of the prior term, began in a limited number of fixtures and featured from the replacements in a handful of games. Even though participating in every Lions Test match facing the Australian side, the welfare oversight panel supervising the well-being of elite athletes has allowed him to face Harlequins at Welford Road on Saturday.

Divergent Situations for Tour Colleagues

The Quins, on the other hand, will lack Chessum’s Lions teammate Marcus Smith, who is required to postpone another week before rejoining the fray. Unlike Owen Farrell, who was similarly absent for much of last season and returned for the start of the domestic season, Smith played in a heavy schedule during the last campaign, including five non-Test Lions tour games and is required to have a required downtime.

Drive from Past Defeat

Chessum, however, is raring to go and demonstrate that Leicester can thrive in the new campaign in spite of the loss of their former coach and multiple experienced squad members. Leicester reached the league final at the end of last season, but Chessum says their thumping 80-12 European Cup loss by Toulouse is the fixture that has given their most enduring motivation. “We felt strongly of ‘We are never going to that place again’. No matter how we prepare, no matter how we are coached, no matter strategy, we are avoiding a repeat.”

“That was the biggest setback in the franchise's past and to admit involvement is embarrassing honestly. So, it stings. You will forever remember and just guarantee you never go through a score like that again.”

He added, “I remember Cheik was visibly upset in the dressing room. The reason we were in the title decider last year was because of what happened after that fixture in Toulouse. There was a noticeable transformation in every player.”

Injury News from Rival Clubs

Bristol Bears, meanwhile, have revealed they have lost starting number ten AJ McGinty for nine months after he suffered a setback in their season opener over the Tigers. McGinty has had surgery on his achilles on the very day that his scrum-half Harry Randall required an operation on his thigh muscle. Randall should recover in the early next year, while the comeback for winger Gabriel Itoye, who also injured his hamstring in the same match and requires an operation, remains uncertain.

Bath, on their side, have kept Max Ojomoh at fly-half for their match at the Rec against Sale on Friday night. Sale, who similarly had a successful opening to the season in the initial fixture, have made several necessary alterations to their run-on side, with two new faces stepping in for the unavailable two key players in turn.