With the clock deep in the red at Sandy Park, the Tigers dug deep into their reserves to somehow fashion out a match-winning moment for replacement Tommy Reffell to help seal a 17-14 success.
It sparked scenes of jubilations among the visitors and their supporters in the stands, whilst it also gave a winning start to life under new head coach Michael Cheika who, ahead of battle, had opted for Chessum as his new onfield leader.
In what was a first for the 24-year-old England international in Tigers colours, Chessum did not disappoint as he led from the front with a heroic display that augurs well for the future.
“Other than being capped at international level, this is probably the biggest honour I’ve had in rugby,” he said. “It may only be for one game, who knows….. but it’s a huge honour.
“When Cheik said on Monday that he was thinking about making me captain and how did I feel? I was straight away like ‘yes’. When I first got to the club, I would have bitten your hand off to play one game – and I’d have certainly bitten your hand to take the captain’s role.
Denne historien er fra September 29, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra September 29, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Albion make most of generosity of the host
‘THIS was a first half to forget for us’, summed up Stortford head coach Tom Coleman, when he said his side made far too many errors and gave Plymouth a big foothold in the contest to emerge victorious.
I came on against Italy and made a difference
I’M currently five years into being master in charge of rugby at Barnard Castle School, which is where it all began for me on my journey to becoming a professional rugby player.
Etzebeth has final word as Springboks claim crown
SOUTH Africa claimed the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019 with a commanding display in Mbombela on a special day for legendary second row Eben Etzebeth.
Hawkins still has Wales in his sight
JOE Hawkins insists he still harbours dreams of representing Wales again at international level.
Thomas leads the charge for Cardiff
CARDIFF turned around an early 15-0 deficit to claim a second successive bonus point victory and gain revenge for last season’s two defeats to the Scarlets.
Fiji deserve to play with best in world
EVERY underdog has its day, as Daniel Dubois reminded us in knocking an entire cathedral’s worth of bells out of Anthony Joshua in London – or, as the capital city is now sycophanticallyknown by those who make the biggest bucks from the fight game, Riyadh-on-Thames.
Captaining Tigers is an honour Chessum
IT WAS quite the comeback for Ollie Chessum, not just personally, but collectively, as Leicester Tigers kicked off their new Premiership season with a lastgasp victory at Exeter Chiefs.
Wade rolls back the years with hat-trick
CHRISTIAN Wade rolled back the years with a hat-trick of tries as Gloucester won a bizarre thriller for a first victory at Ashton Gate after six consecutive defeats.
Falcons show spirit but Quins do enough
HARLEQUINS duly secured the bonus point win that most pundits expected but Newcastle will have been far from downhearted as they made the long coach journey home.
New-look Saints still have what it takes
THE champions might have lost the talismanic Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlam to France but this new-look team were still too good for Exeter.
