Lewis Chessum

Lewis Chessum

Chessum in 2022
Date of birth	(2003-02-27) 27 February 2003 (age 22)
Place of birth	Boston, Lincolnshire, England
Height	2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
Weight	120 kg (18 st 13 lb; 260 lb)
School	Carre's Grammar School
Notable relative(s)	Ollie Chessum (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock Current team Leicester Tigers Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2020- Leicester Tigers 12 (5) 2020–2024 → Nottingham (loan) 35 (10) 2025 → Sagamihara DynaBoars (loan) 10 (0) Correct as of 10 May 2025 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2022–2023 England U20s 17 (5) Correct as of 14 July 2023

Lewis Chessum (born 27 February 2003) is an English professional rugby union player. He plays as a lock for Leicester Tigers and has captained the England under-20 rugby union team. He has also played on loan for Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars in Japan Rugby League One.

Early life

Chessum is from Lincolnshire, and was brought up in Aunsby, near Sleaford. He attended Carre's Grammar School in Sleaford. ^{[1] [2]}

Career

Chessum started playing rugby at Sleaford RFC when he was nine years-old. He joined Leicester Tigers rugby academy as a teenager in 2019. ^[3] Chessum plays in the second-row where he can utilise his 6'9" height. ^[4] He made his debut for Leicester in the 2021–22 season, after a loan at Championship Rugby side Nottingham. He signed a new contact with Leicester in August 2022. ^[5]

Chessum made his debut for England under-20s on 1 March 2022 in a win against Wales during the 2022 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. ^{[6] [7]} On 3 February 2023 he captained England under-20 for the first time in a 41–36 victory over Scotland under-20s. ^{[8] [9]} Later that year Chessum led the side to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship. ^[10]

On 29 January 2025, having made twelve appearances for the Leicester first-team, it was announced that Chessum had signed a new contract at Leicester, but was also joining Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars on loan for the 2025 season as part of a new "performance partnership" between the two clubs. ^[11] He made his debut in Japan Rugby League One as a replacement on 1 February 2025, in a 12-40 defeat against Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay. ^[12]

Personal life

He is the younger brother of England rugby union international Ollie Chessum. ^{[13] [14]}

References

1. "Mum's delight as another son chosen to play rugby for England". Lincolnshirelive. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
2. "Lincolnshire brothers named in England's senior and under-20s squads". Lincolnite.co.uk. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
3. "Lewis Chessum". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
4. "England starter's 6'7" brother towers over other under-20s". Rugby Onslaught. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
5. "Premiership: Seven players ink new Leicester Tigers contracts". Planet Rugby. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
6. "Chessum brothers make England rugby debuts in the same month". Lincolnshire World. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
7. "Under-20 Six Nations: England U20s 43-14 Wales U20s". BBC Sport. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
8. "Who is Ollie Chessum: Ten things you should know about the England forward". Rugby World. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
9. Ainsworth, Imogen (8 February 2023). "The family business - Rise of England's Chessum brothers". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
10. Powell, Nick (16 July 2023). "We made too many mistakes, admits Chessum". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
11. "Dynaboars move for Chessum in Tigers partnership". BBC. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
12. "Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars v Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay". Ultimate Rugby. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
13. "Six Nations 2023: Chessum brothers 'dreaming' of playing together for England". BBC Sport. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
14. Whitelam, Paul (12 September 2020). "Leicester Tigers player thanks teacher for encouraging him to play rugby instead of football". Lincolnshirelive.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2023.

External links

• Lewis Chessum at ItsRugby.co.uk