Ollie Chessum has acknowledged that being linked with the England captaincy is a compliment, but the Leicester forward insists he is not chasing the role while Maro Itoje remains in charge. England captaincy talk has followed Chessum after his growing influence in the national pack, yet the 26-year-old made clear that any ambition to lead the side lies well beyond the present.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Chessum said he enjoys the leadership side of the game and finds the external recognition pleasing, but he does not view captaincy as a position to pursue. He suggested the role tends to settle on the right person rather than being actively sought, and he stressed that Itoje is performing the job well now. Chessum added that he is using his place in an experienced senior leadership group to learn from the current skipper.
Itoje's tenure and the path behind him
Itoje, 32, took over as England captain in January 2025, succeeding his Saracens team-mate Jamie George. Before that, Owen Farrell had held the full-time role from 2019 until he stepped away from Test rugby in late 2023 and later moved to France, which made him ineligible for international selection. Chessum, who has won 38 caps since debuting in February 2022, has captained Leicester and toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions last year. He has become a regular part of England’s forward options, covering both lock and blindside flanker.
While Chessum did not shut the door on leading England at some future point, he was careful to keep his focus on the current setup. He described the prospect as something that would be special but made clear it is not a present objective, and he repeated that he is picking up knowledge from Itoje and the wider leadership group.
Club clashes leave no trace in camp
Chessum also said there has been no awkwardness in switching from club rivalries back to England duty. He was involved in a half-time incident during Leicester’s win over Northampton, when he pushed Henry Pollock down the tunnel, and a week later he briefly confronted Bristol’s Ellis Genge. Both players are now team-mates with England during the Test window, and Chessum described them as close friends in camp.
He noted that Genge had been his captain at Leicester during the Premiership-winning season under Steve Borthwick and that facing him in another shirt is unusual. Chessum said he expects Genge to try to unsettle opponents and sees that as part of the game, adding that he would expect the same commitment from himself regardless of which shirt he wears.
England look to move on from a difficult run
England return to Allianz Stadium on Sunday to face Australia, the first time they have played there since a 42-21 defeat by Ireland in February, a low point in a poor Six Nations campaign. They lost to world champions South Africa in July before beating Fiji and Argentina. Chessum said he understands why supporters may be frustrated and that the squad shares that feeling, acknowledging that England have not met their own standards or those expected of them.
At the same time, he expressed excitement about the talent in the group, pointing to young players with only a handful of caps who could become long-term members of the England team. He also highlighted the balance provided by experienced leaders such as Itoje, Genge, George and George Ford. For Chessum, the immediate aim is clear: contribute fully to England’s cause while any discussion of captaincy remains a distant consideration.
