- The versatile striker has become a lynchpin and versatile player for Borthwick
- Leicester confirmed the news on Thursday and said the surgery was a success.
- Chessum will return to action after the summer at the start of next season
Ollie Chessum will miss crucial matches on England’s tour against New Zealand this summer after successfully undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury.
The Leicester Tigers forward, who can play at tight end and on the blindside, has become a key figure for club and country since making his international debut in the 2022 Six Nations.
England coach Steve Borthwick worked with Chessum at the Tigers before succeeding Eddie Jones as the country’s national coach and is a big admirer of the 23-year-old’s ability.
But he will not be able to count on him for the match against Japan (now coached by Jones) on June 22 or for the two matches against the All Blacks on July 6 and 13 respectively.
Chessum’s Leicester club confirmed on Thursday that Chessum will miss the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign after undergoing successful surgery to repair an “ongoing injury”.
Leicester Tigers’ Ollie Chessum to miss England’s matches against Japan and New Zealand
Steve Borthwick will be disappointed to miss out on the striker’s services over the summer.
While the Tigers have refused to confirm the exact nature of Chessum’s fitness issue, it is understood he underwent surgery to address a shoulder issue.
Chessum will spend the summer recovering from surgery and is expected to be ready for Leicester for the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
His injury means Borthwick will likely choose Maro Itoje and Chessum’s Leicester teammate George Martin as his first-choice partner for the New Zealand matches.