Ollie Chessum is prepared to play a full and impactful role in England's Six Nations campaign after enduring a gruelling six-month battle with a painful foot injury. The Leicester second row delivered an impressive performance in England's commanding 48-7 victory over Wales, setting his sights firmly on retaining the Calcutta Cup against Scotland.
A Test of Resilience and Pain
Every triumph for England carries significance, but Saturday's win held extra meaning for Chessum, who had been limping through intense discomfort for nearly half a year. His selection for the British and Irish Lions tour last summer stands as a testament to his exceptional quality, as he participated in all three Test matches despite managing excruciating pain from a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his right foot.
This partial tear severely restricted Chessum's training capacity, and by the time of the Test series against Australia, he was barely able to run. Nevertheless, he persevered until the ligament in his foot finally gave way completely during a match against Fiji in November, resulting in a six-week absence from the pitch—though not before he courageously finished that game.
Emotional and Physical Drain
"It was not nice," Chessum admitted during an event hosted by Allianz, a long-term supporter of rugby for over 13 years. "I feel like up until the autumn, that six-month period, including the Lions tour, it’s not an excuse but I was just trying to get through weeks, getting to a position where I could play at the weekend. That is not sustainable, it’s not enjoyable."
He elaborated on the frustration, stating, "Every time you played, you felt like you gave 100% but you felt like you were giving 100% of 70%. That was really frustrating. It was on the Lions tour that it started to really rear its head. I remember doing the team run for the second Test and speaking to Bob Stewart, the physio out there who is also our physio with England. I told him that I couldn’t really run."
Chessum highlighted the emotional toll, noting, "I’ve had way more significant injuries, but the nature of those is that you did it and had no chance of trying to play through it. With this, it’s just draining emotionally because you are just frustrated that you can’t give the best version of you."
His training regimen became compromised, as he explained, "We would do double days on a Tuesday in England camp and I wouldn’t take part in the morning session so that I was able to train in the afternoon. I was playing at the weekend but wasn’t able to do a large amount of training. It wasn’t really good for anyone."
Return to Peak Performance
Now fully recovered, Chessum's relief was palpable during the match against Wales at Allianz Stadium. He was particularly active with ball in hand, executing several eye-catching runs, and expressed to coach Steve Borthwick how rewarding it felt to be back at his peak physical condition. "It’s been really refreshing to be back in a position where the body, by and large, feels in a good place," he said.
Focus on the Calcutta Cup Challenge
Next, England faces a demanding trip to Scotland, where they have not won since 2020. Chessum's sole prior experience at Murrayfield was a 30-21 defeat two years ago, marked by a Duhan van der Merwe hat-trick that secured Scotland's fourth consecutive Calcutta Cup victory. However, Chessum views that loss as a pivotal moment that catalyzed England's current trajectory, which includes a 12-match winning streak.
He reflected, "That game was a really turning point for us in the way we approached how we wanted to play our game. The following week was a fallow week and then we played Ireland at home, beating them for the first time in five attempts. Then we went away to France and that was a two-point game. I know we had the stumbling block of the autumn that followed but I think a lot of the lads would say that it was a real turning point for us."
Chessum added, "It would be a nice one to tick off for the group, but it’s not an easy one to just tick off. They have a star-studded team." His insights are informed by experience, having been coached by Scotland forwards coach John Dalziel during the Lions tour and rooming with Scottish centre Huw Jones.
While his Scottish counterparts may know him personally, they might be taken aback by the rugby player they encounter on Saturday—a fully fit and formidable Chessum, ready to contribute decisively to England's Six Nations ambitions.
