Ollie Chessum signs new two-year deal to remain with Leicester Tigers
Ollie Chessum said he could not imagine wearing another badge after signing a new two-year contract with his boyhood club Leicester Tigers last week. The 26-year-old England and British and Irish Lions lock has earned 38 England caps.
The deal has been reported to be worth £500,000 a season. Chessum has featured 89 times for the East Midlands club since first emerging from the Tigers academy in August 2020.
When asked about his decision to recommit, Chessum told BBC Radio Leicester: "For me there was no question." "I love playing for this club, this has been my club ever since I've known what rugby is about and for me it was as pure and simple as I couldn't see myself with another badge on my chest."
Chessum is in his second season as Tigers' captain, although his campaign got off to a delayed start as he recovered from a foot injury. He scored a try in his first appearance of the season, which was a heavy defeat at Pau in the European Champions Cup.
He has gone on to lead Leicester in back-to-back Premiership wins against Northampton and Bristol that have sent Tigers top of the table.
"I've loved every minute of being captain and being able to lead this group," Chessum said. "Leadership is one of those things that I liken it to golf; people say you never master it. And leadership is exactly the same - you are constantly looking for ways to improve. "The leadership stuff is all well and good but Geoff [head coach Geoff Parling] makes it very clear to me that week in and week out my job as captain is to first and foremost to play well. I think I'm in the perfect environment for that - the coaches we have now are constantly driving us to get better as leaders and more importantly as rugby players as well."
The two-year deal signed last week, reportedly worth £500,000 a season, secures Chessum's future at Leicester while he continues as captain with the Tigers occupying the top spot in the Premiership following wins over Northampton and Bristol.