England ‘warrior’ a major doubt for Autumn Nations Series after training incident
October 29, 2024England could be without star forward Ollie Chessum for the entirety of the Autumn Nations Series, with the Leicester man picking up a knock in training.
Chessum has been a key part of the England squad since his debut in 2022 and was one of the first 17 players to get a new enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS) contract earlier this week, but he has had his injury issues in recent seasons.
He missed England’s tour to Japan and New Zealand due to shoulder surgery and has also suffered from ankle issues in the past year as well.
Chessum in doubt for Autumn Nations Series
It is understood Chessum will undergo a scan on a knee injury picked up during an England training session in Girona and could be out for up to three months.
This would rule him out of all four of England’s November Tests against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Japan, and also leave him in a potential race against time to be fit for the Six Nations early next year.
England enhanced EPS contracts winners and losers: ‘Ultimate Test player’ rewarded but key starters overlooked
Chessum had been in outstanding form for Leicester in the early stages of the Premiership season, and skippered them in the absence of Julian Montoya too.
His form likely would have seen him starting in the England XV for the opening Test of the autumn against the All Blacks, at either lock or blindside flanker.
Michael Cheika, Chessum’s club coach, also interjected on the injury; saying “he’ll be back with a vengeance” upon his return.
“It’s disappointing but guys have got to train, they’ve got to prepare for the season. It happens. If you’re going to play footy, that can happen,” said Cheika after the Tigers’ victory against Saracens.
“I don’t know the full extent of what has happened. But all I know is that Ollie Chessum is a warrior.
Bath thump Sale in 14-a-side thriller while Gloucester put Newcastle to the sword
“He’ll be planning his return already, no matter when it is. I’m sure he’ll be back with a vengeance what that comes.
“Once I get the chance to see him I’ll know a little bit more, but these things happen.”
Latest injury blow for Steve Borthwick
Chessum’s injury now deepens the problems across the England squad. Starting scrum-half Alex Mitchell is likely to miss the entirety of the November Tests through a neck injury, and George Ford and Fraser Dingwall are also on the sidelines at the moment. There has been some positive news on Ford, however, with assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth confirming he is the final stages of his rehab.
Henry Slade is another player who was expected to be a doubt for the opening game against New Zealand, but he will feature in Exeter’s Premiership clash with Harlequins on Sunday to prove he is ready to start next weekend.
If Borthwick does opt to bring in a new face to replace Chessum, he has plenty of options at his disposal. In the second-row, Alex Coles is the likely front-runner after his return to fitness, as is in-form Saracens man Hugh Tizard.
In the back-row, where Chessum is also an option, the likes of Ted Hill, Ethan Roots, Jack Kenningham, Tom Pearson or even red-hot Tom Willis are all options to come in.
READ NEXT: Saracens v Leicester: 5 takeaways as ‘brutal’ Tigers claim ‘play-off quality’ victory, while snubbed Englishman sends message