Rugby Union News: Chessum Sidelined for England’s Summer Tour
In a blow to the England national rugby union team, it has been announced that Ollie Chessum will miss the upcoming summer tour due to an ongoing injury. Leicester Tigers have revealed that the versatile forward will sit out the final two rounds of the Gallagher Premiership regular season after undergoing surgery to address an unspecified issue.
The Tigers believe Chessum should be fit and ready for the start of the next season in September, but his absence will be felt as England prepares to take on Japan and New Zealand in the summer internationals.
Head coach Steve Borthwick must now adjust his plans without the influential 23-year-old, who has become a key component of the England pack during his 23 caps, primarily in the second row.
Chessum, who started every match of this year’s Six Nations, was last seen in action during Leicester’s 21-19 defeat against Bristol. Despite completing that match, it was determined that he required surgical intervention to address the ongoing problem.
The loss of Chessum’s versatility, capable of playing both lock and blindside flanker, is a significant blow for the England management as they look to finalize their squad for the upcoming tests. The national team will have to navigate the summer tour without one of their most promising young forwards, as they aim to build momentum ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
This news will be a disappointment for both Chessum and the England setup, but the focus now turns to his recovery and ensuring he is fully fit for the start of the new season, where he will no doubt be a vital figure in the Tigers’ pursuit of Investec Champions Cup qualification.
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