From welding to rugby: Get to know England lock Ollie Chessum from career to personal life

Ollie Chessum Ollie Chessum. Image via Instagram @olliechessum

Ollie Chessum is an English professional rugby player who plays as a lock for the England national team. At the club level, Ollie currently plays for Leicester Tigers as their team captain.

From getting bored with the game to representing the national team, Chessum’s journey is unlike any other. Since he took off, he has been on the rise at both the club and national levels, impressing fans.

Away from rugby, he has also grown into a man, so different from the player he is. As humble as one would ask for, Ollie’s lifestyle had been something fans wanted to know more about.

With such a profile, both on and off the rugby field, Ollie Chessum is now one of the most followed English stars. His following has grown massively, with over 50000 followers on Instagram alone.

Indeed, here is more about the talented lock, from rugby to his personal life.

PROFILE SUMMARY

Full Name: Oliver Andrew Chessum

Date of birth: 06 September 2000

Age: 25

Place of birth: Boston, England

Height: 2.01 m

Weight: 119 kg

Father: Paddy Chessum

Mother: Michelle Chessum

Sibling(s): Lewis Chessum

Girlfriend: name not disclosed

Position: Lock

OLLIE CHESSUM’S AGE, AND EARLY LIFE

The talented lock, Ollie Chessum, was born on 06 September 2000 and turned 25 in 2025. Ollie was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England, where he grew up. Chessum started playing rugby as a small boy in his neighbourhood, for fun. He later took the game more seriously at 13, when he played in High School at Carre’s Grammar in Sleaford.

Growing up as one of the best among his agemates, Ollie went on to join Sleaford, Newark, and Kesteven. He later stopped playing the game because it was boring, only to come back a year later. On his comeback, he joined Kesteven RFC, a move that changed his life.

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Impressing as usual, Ollie became a big name, and Leicester Tigers invited him for a 6-week trial. Unfortunately, he got injured and missed the opportunity; instead, he joined Nottingham.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

After joining Nottingham in 2019, Ollie immediately impressed, playing 11 games before Leicester Tigers called again.

The following year, in 2020, Ollie Chessum joined Leicester Tigers, starting from the reserves. He pushed hard until he joined the first training team. His professional debut for Leicester came at Kingsholm against Gloucester on 30 August 2020.

Since then, he has grabbed his chance and never looked back; he has grown into an important player for the team. He played a big part in Leicester Tigers’ 21/22 PREM Rugby championship. He played many games as a key player and leader.

With outstanding leadership and professional performances, Ollie Chessum earned the Leicester Tigers armband (captain) for the 2025-26 season.

ENGLAND NATIONAL TEAM

The talented lock, Ollie Chessum, walked the walk when it comes to the England national team. He started representing his country at the Under-18 level, where he became a captain.

He went through the Under-20s as well, impressing, until his time with the senior team came. Ollie made it into the England squad for the 2022 Six Nations Championship on 18 January 2022, under coach Eddie Jones. Jones compared the talented aspiring star to the legendary Courtney Lawes, highlighting his lineout skills and his ball-carrying abilities.

Eddie Jones’ comparison left the whole world asking themselves who Ollie Chessum was. He made his England national team debut against Italy on 13 February 2022.

Since then, Chessum has been part of England’s squad for the 2023 Six Nations Championship and the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He became a starter, an important player and a leader as he became a constant in the team. Unfortunately, he suffered a shoulder injury that took him out for a long time.

As of 2026, Ollie Chessum had grown to be one of the first names in the England squad.

OLLIE CHESSUM’S HEIGHT, WEIGHT AND PLAYING STYLE.

Ollie Chessum stands 2.01 m tall, giving England a lineout target and reach. He weighs about 118kg, carrying near-forward bulk without losing athletic mobility around the field. He plays primarily as a lock, but coaches also deploy him at blindside flanker for extra height. In set-piece phases, he calls and hits lineout jumps, contests steals, and anchors mauls.

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He scrummages hard behind tighthead props, keeping his body square and driving through contact. In open play, he runs direct lines, wins collisions, and offloads only when space is clear. He tackles aggressively, folds quickly, and makes cover hits that stop breaks on the edge. He links phases with smart ruck arrivals, clearing bodies and securing fast ball for playmakers.

His game mixes power and pace, so he pressures kick chasers and competes strongly at restarts. That blend makes him a modern second-row enforcer who still contributes like a roaming back-rower.

OLLIE CHESSUM’S FAMILY (PARENTS, SIBLINGS AND FAMILY BUSINESS)

The talented lock, Ollie Chessum, is the son of Paddy Chessum and Michelle Chessum. Growing up, both Paddy and Michelle supported their kids to fulfil their dreams.

Paddy and Michelle were both sportspeople and had played at a low level. Paddy played rugby and mostly soccer in the local grassroots league. Michelle, on the other side, was a netball player but did not go far.

Ollie Chessum has two brothers, Lewis and Dylan Chessum, with Lewis himself a professional rugby player. Indeed, the competition between the two brothers positively pushed them, as guided by their parents.

Even now that they are both professionals, they support each other in tough and good times. Their parents and younger brother also attend games to support them, demonstrating a strong family bond. Indeed, Ollie Chessum has a strong support system behind him. When he falls, his family is there to hold him.

To show for their unity, the Chessum family has a family business led by the parents, Paddy and Michelle. The family have a company dealing with metal, and Ollie worked there as a welder during Covid 19 lockdown.

The family business had been a key part in keeping them up and a backup plan whenever needed by every family member.

OLLIE CHESSUM’S GIRLFRIEND

Despite his family’s strong support, the English lock has another pillar of strength. Ollie Chessum has a girlfriend whom he posts on social media several times.

Ollie Chessum and his girlfriend
Ollie Chessum and his girlfriend. Image via Instagram @olliechessum

However, Ollie Chessum’s girlfriend is a reserved lady and has not yet revealed her name.

However, it is only a matter of time before the two decide to reveal her name and take further steps, such as marriage.

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