Latest news with #OllieChessum
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Finn Russell sets sights on Lions success after long-awaited title triumph with Bath
Clutching a bottle of lager deep in the bowels of Twickenham, the celebrations could at last begin for Finn Russell. For a decade the Scottish fly half had sought a second success to go along with the Pro 12 title won at Glasgow as a 22-year-old to no avail; after playing a starring role to snap Bath's own, longer wait for a title, this was a triumph he intended to enjoy. But only temporarily. On Monday, Russell will fly to Dublin to join up with the British and Irish Lions aiming to quickly shake off any lingering impacts of the final and its aftermath and get up to speed. It is a tight turnaround for Russell, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum and the large Leinster lot ahead of the touring side's first fixture against Argentina on Friday – while it is likely that most are not involved at the Aviva Stadium there will clearly be a need to hit the ground running. Advertisement 'I have not won much in my career,' Russell admitted, beer in hand, on Saturday night. 'The last time I won a title like this was 10 years ago and I want to enjoy it, that is important as well. If I go back home and just chill then you don't get the chance to appreciate what we have achieved. Bath are champions of England for the first time in nearly three decades (Getty Images) 'Bath haven't won one in 29 years; it is important to celebrate what you have done that season. It is not just one game today, it is the last 48 weeks we have been going to get to where we are now.' Russell's trophy hunt had rather embodied that of his nation, Scotland good but not good enough so often throughout his time wearing the thistle. If little of that was to do with their orchestrator-in-chief there were those – including Johnny Sexton, soon to be his Lions coach – who clearly felt the Scot's style outweighed his substance; the flash fur coat occasionally opened to reveal little underneath. At Bath, though, the 32-year-old appears to have grown into a well-rounded player, aided, of course, by a power-packed pack and, in Ben Spencer, a complementary scrum half and leader. Advertisement The impact of Johann van Graan on his career is clear, too. The Bath boss was just as vital as Bruce Craig's chequebook in luring Russell to the city, and perhaps contrasting characters have found themselves somewhat kindred spirits. 'Johann is amazing at his job, one of the best I have ever worked with in terms of bringing everyone together,' hailed Russell of the South African. 'The first time I met him, I think, was the November before I came. I chatted to Johann as a man. He said 'I know what you do on the pitch, I want to get to know you as a guy' That is what he is, he wants a team full of good men. Finn Russell has thrived at Bath (Getty Images) 'At Racing [92], we had brilliant players and coaches but I was chatting to Johann and the vision of where this club could get to was really exciting for me and that is why I came here. The city we are playing for, they give us that energy as well and Johann has brought it all together in a way I have never felt before. 'For me, as an individual, I came to England and I felt it was a different game here, a little bit more structure. As a player, it was brilliant to come here, and that different style of rugby. You come to big games like [the final], hopefully more to come, but to use that kicking game as a real threat is brilliant for me.' Advertisement That feeling of togetherness was on full display with Russell's gifting of a score to Max Ojomoh, son of club legend Steve and one of the homegrown stars thriving alongside the fly half. 'I could have scored it myself obviously,' Russell chuckled, before revealing a remarkable sense of clarity after a lung-busting surge of 60 metres as he explained why he had given a pass with the line in sight. Finn Russell (right) laid a try on a plate for Bath-born Max Ojomoh (David Davies/PA Wire) 'He is a young player from Bath, who has only ever been at Bath, and I would like to think scoring that in the final is a big thing for him. He said his dad never scored in the final so he has got one over him there – he just needs to get an England cap now.' The significant success of this season should be a perfect springboard for Russell to attack his time with the Lions. His past tours have been tough, in some ways, with the Geography Six saga of 2017 followed by the Covid-wrecked trip to South Africa in 2021 – having spoken previously of his eagerness to embrace the experience fully, the fly half hopes to thrive in Australia. Advertisement 'When you get to the Lions it is another level of intensity, it is the best of the best from Britain and Ireland. I am looking forward to the challenge, everyone is fighting for Test spots but it is not just getting in the Tests it is winning them as well. Finn Russell hopes to make the most of his time with the British and Irish Lions (Getty Images) 'Looking forward to the Lions, there are three Tests at the end of it, and they are effectively knockout games. Having knockout games is really important in terms of finding a way to win. It was tough game [against Leicester] and we weren't at our best but finding a way to win is really important.'
The Independent
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Finn Russell sets sights on Lions success after long-awaited title triumph with Bath
Clutching a bottle of lager deep in the bowels of Twickenham, the celebrations could at last begin for Finn Russell. For a decade the Scottish fly half had sought a second success to go along with the Pro 12 title won at Glasgow as a 22-year-old to no avail; after playing a starring role to snap Bath's own, longer wait for a title, this was a triumph he intended to enjoy. But only temporarily. On Monday, Russell will fly to Dublin to join up with the British and Irish Lions aiming to quickly shake off any lingering impacts of the final and its aftermath and get up to speed. It is a tight turnaround for Russell, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum and the large Leinster lot ahead of the touring side's first fixture against Argentina on Friday – while it is likely that most are not involved at the Aviva Stadium there will clearly be a need to hit the ground running. 'I have not won much in my career,' Russell admitted, beer in hand, on Saturday night. 'The last time I won a title like this was 10 years ago and I want to enjoy it, that is important as well. If I go back home and just chill then you don't get the chance to appreciate what we have achieved. 'Bath haven't won one in 29 years; it is important to celebrate what you have done that season. It is not just one game today, it is the last 48 weeks we have been going to get to where we are now.' Russell's trophy hunt had rather embodied that of his nation, Scotland good but not good enough so often throughout his time wearing the thistle. If little of that was to do with their orchestrator-in-chief there were those – including Johnny Sexton, soon to be his Lions coach – who clearly felt the Scot's style outweighed his substance; the flash fur coat occasionally opened to reveal little underneath. At Bath, though, the 32-year-old appears to have grown into a well-rounded player, aided, of course, by a power-packed pack and, in Ben Spencer, a complementary scrum half and leader. The impact of Johann van Graan on his career is clear, too. The Bath boss was just as vital as Bruce Craig's chequebook in luring Russell to the city, and perhaps contrasting characters have found themselves somewhat kindred spirits. 'Johann is amazing at his job, one of the best I have ever worked with in terms of bringing everyone together,' hailed Russell of the South African. 'The first time I met him, I think, was the November before I came. I chatted to Johann as a man. He said 'I know what you do on the pitch, I want to get to know you as a guy' That is what he is, he wants a team full of good men. 'At Racing [92], we had brilliant players and coaches but I was chatting to Johann and the vision of where this club could get to was really exciting for me and that is why I came here. The city we are playing for, they give us that energy as well and Johann has brought it all together in a way I have never felt before. 'For me, as an individual, I came to England and I felt it was a different game here, a little bit more structure. As a player, it was brilliant to come here, and that different style of rugby. You come to big games like [the final], hopefully more to come, but to use that kicking game as a real threat is brilliant for me.' That feeling of togetherness was on full display with Russell's gifting of a score to Max Ojomoh, son of club legend Steve and one of the homegrown stars thriving alongside the fly half. 'I could have scored it myself obviously,' Russell chuckled, before revealing a remarkable sense of clarity after a lung-busting surge of 60 metres as he explained why he had given a pass with the line in sight. 'He is a young player from Bath, who has only ever been at Bath, and I would like to think scoring that in the final is a big thing for him. He said his dad never scored in the final so he has got one over him there – he just needs to get an England cap now.' The significant success of this season should be a perfect springboard for Russell to attack his time with the Lions. His past tours have been tough, in some ways, with the Geography Six saga of 2017 followed by the Covid-wrecked trip to South Africa in 2021 – having spoken previously of his eagerness to embrace the experience fully, the fly half hopes to thrive in Australia. 'When you get to the Lions it is another level of intensity, it is the best of the best from Britain and Ireland. I am looking forward to the challenge, everyone is fighting for Test spots but it is not just getting in the Tests it is winning them as well. 'Looking forward to the Lions, there are three Tests at the end of it, and they are effectively knockout games. Having knockout games is really important in terms of finding a way to win. It was tough game [against Leicester] and we weren't at our best but finding a way to win is really important.'
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Winning mentality will be Michael Cheika's Leicester legacy
Leicester lock Ollie Chessum is in no doubt Michael Cheika's legacy will have a lasting impact on the club, no matter what the result in his final game as head coach against Bath in the Gallagher Premiership final. It is set to be a summer of change at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, with former Leicester player Geoff Parling set to take charge after the Australian departs at the end of his one-year contract. Just a couple of seasons on from their last Premiership final triumph, the Tigers finished eighth in a disappointing 2023-24 campaign. The arrival of Cheika – who took the Wallabies to the 2015 World Cup final and then guided Argentina into the last four two years ago – saw Leicester's fortunes transformed. On the back of a new-found mental resilience, Cheika's men were driven on to second place in the table behind Bath. Chessum, who fought his way back to fitness following a knee injury suffered in an England training camp in October, feels 58-year-old Cheika deserves plenty of plaudits for helping turn the club around. 'We were in a real good spot a few years ago as a group, and we probably lost our way a little bit and that is how you find yourself down in eighth and out of the play-offs,' said Chessum, set to be part of the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. 'There is no denying that something needed to change in quite a few aspects of our game. 'Cheiks will say we have probably not changed too much technically, but it is just around that mental side and the emotional side of the game is what has really changed everything this year and has put us in this spot.' Chessum, 24, added: 'He just finds a way to galvanise the group, get them to find a real meaning in what they are doing and use that to to drive them on. Our mental approach for the team has changed massively towards games. 'He will say that goes a huge way towards winning, it is just believing you can do it and sort of shocking yourself really with what you are able to do as an individual. 'The way he has changed how the team approaches the game mentally has been a huge part of what he will leave as a legacy.' Cheika has named an unchanged side from the semi-final win over Sale for Saturday's showpiece at the Allianz Stadium, which will see several Leicester players make their last appearance in a Tigers shirt. Club stalwarts Dan Cole and Ben Youngs will retire while captain Julian Montoya, South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard, James Cronin and Matt Rogerson are all set to depart. Leicester lost home and away to Bath during the regular campaign, beaten 43-15 at The Recreation Ground in May. Chessum knows the Tigers will have to step up to the challenge as Bath seek to complete a trophy treble with what would be the Somerset club's first league title since 1996. 'They don't just play this stylish brand of rugby – they have still got this huge pack that can can break you down physically as well, so they are a great team,' Chessum said. 'We will have to front up on all fronts and be at our best to beat them, but that is the beauty of the challenge and of finals rugby.'
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Ollie Chessum cleared for Premiership play-offs and Lions tour as citing dismissed
Ollie Chessum has been cleared to play in the remainder of the Premiership season after a citing against the Leicester Tigers lock was dismissed. A ban had been looming for Chessum after the citing commissioner had picked up a high tackle made in Tigers' defeat to Bath at The Rec. The second row had been given a yellow card by referee Anthony Woodthorpe on the day after consultation with the television match official, but a citing suggested that his sanction may be upgraded to a red. That raised the prospect of the 24-year-old facing a three-match that would have ruled him out of the remainder of his club campaign, including the Premiership final if Leicester make it. Alternately, Chessum may have missed the British and Irish Lions opening encounter with Argentina in Dublin. But the independent disciplinary panel has dismissed a charge of dangerous tackling, deeming that the challenge had not been at a high level of danger and leaving Chessum free to play immediately. He will therefore be able to feature in Leicester's final Premiership game against Newcastle, with Michael Cheika 's men requiring a victory to secure a home semi-final. Cheika will depart at the end of the season with former Tigers lock Geoff Parling set to replace the head coach at Welford Road. Parling will be part of the Wallabies staff during the Lions series, and Chessum admitted last week that his incoming boss had kept communication to a minimum. Chessum said': '[It's been] very brief, just a short message – he congratulated me and he sent us a message about the result the other day. There's been minimal contact but I am looking forward to working with him. 'It is going to be a strange one, he's coming over to Tigers but he is going to be part of the Australia set-up until the end of this tour. It will be a bit of a strange atmosphere but I am looking forward to working with him.'
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Ollie Chessum risks Premiership final ban after dangerous tackle citing
England and Lions second row Ollie Chessum risks missing Leicester Tigers' Premiership play-off campaign after being cited for a dangerous tackle on Bath's Will Muir that could bring a three-match ban. The incident occurred in the 10th minute of Leicester's 43-15 defeat at the Premiership leaders on Saturday night and was picked up by the officials. Referee Anthony Woodthorpe aided by David Rose, the television match official, chose only to show a yellow card to Chessum who made contact with the head of Bath wing Muir. On the referee microphone, Woodthorpe decided that the force of the impact had also been directed into Muir's chest. However, an independent citing commissioner has chosen to recommend Chessum for a disciplinary hearing for an alleged breach of World Rugby Law 9.13. All head contacts carry a mandatory mid-range entry point so the entry point for any suspension would start at six weeks. This can be mitigated down by up to 50 per cent, but Chessum has already completed 'tackle school' having served a two-week ban for another high tackle on Clermont's Samuel Ezeala in a Champions Cup match in 2022. Leicester have one regular season match remaining, at home to Newcastle Falcons on May 31, with Michael Cheika's side needing to win to be assured of a home semi-final. Should Leicester fail to make the final then Chessum, 24, would be in danger of missing the British and Irish Lions ' opening warm-up game against Argentina in Dublin on June 20 and a longer ban would rule him out of fixtures in Australia against Western Force and the Queensland Reds. Bath hooker Tom Dunn was also yellow-carded during Saturday's game and Leicester head coach Cheika was frustrated by the over-reliance on technology in a first half that lasted 52 minutes. 'They have definitely got to get on top of what they are doing with what they go back for with the TMO because if you want to back through that game there's at least a few other head clashes in the game,' said Cheika. 'I thought both of them [yellow cards] were fine.' Privately, Leicester were particularly aggrieved that Bath second row Charlie Ewels' high challenge on Ollie Hassell-Collins was not picked up. Meanwhile, England full-back George Furbank could make an unexpected return for Northampton Saints' Champions Cup final against Bordeaux on Saturday. Furbank broke his arm in Northampton's victory against Bulls in December but suffered a setback in his comeback game due to discomfort around the metal plate he had inserted. Furbank, the club captain, trained on Tuesday and Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson will make a call on Thursday whether to include him in his match-day squad. Of greater concern is the fitness doubt over hooker Curtis Langdon who suffered a shoulder injury in the Premiership defeat of Saracens while second row Alex Coles and full-back James Ramm are also doubts.
