AMBASSADOR CELEBRATES SELECTION FOR SUMMER LIONS TOUR
Congratulations to Matt Hampson Foundation ambassador Ollie Chessum on selection for the British & Irish Lions tour squad this summer.
Leicester Tigers and England international forward Chessum is named in the 38-man squad for the tour to Australia announced by head coach Andy Farrell at the IndigO2 in London on Thursday.
Chessum made his Leicester debut in August 2020 and his first appearance for England two years later. He also played in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the same year he joined the Foundation as an Ambassador.
In the first-ever squad announcement made in front of a public audience, head coach Farrell named Maro Itoje as captain and said: “Congratulations to everybody who has been selected, it is a special day for them and something they will remember forever.
“Since we met as a coaching unit for the very first time six weeks ago we have been discussing more than 75 players of interest. But the key job is getting that squad balance right as we prepare for a long and demanding tour that finishes with a Test series against the Wallabies.
“I am very excited about working with this group and believe they have the capacity to achieve something special and add to the Lions legacy.”
The Matt Hampson Foundation is an official charity partner of the Lions as they prepare for a tour which begins in June and includes three Test matches against the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Matt Hampson OBE, who attended the squad announcement, said: “The Lions is the pinnacle for a player and we congratulate all the squad on selection.
“We are incredibly proud of Ollie, having watched his progress from his arrival at Leicester through club and international rugby to be included in the Lions squad.
“It is a huge honour for the Foundation to be selected as an official charity partner this year and we look forward to following all the action in Australia.”
