Ollie Chessum says he could not imagine wearing anything but the Leicester Tigers badge on his chest when he agreed to extend his stay with his boyhood club.

The 26-year-old England and British and Irish Lions lock signed a new two-year deal last week, which is reportedly worth £500,000 a season., external

He has featured 89 times for the East Midlands club since first emerging from the Tigers academy in August 2020.

“For me there was no question,” Chessum told BBC Radio Leicester when asked about his decision to recommit to the club.

“I love playing for this club, this has been my club ever since I’ve known what rugby is about and for me it was as pure and simple as I couldn’t see myself with another badge on my chest.”

Chessum is in his second season as Tigers’ captain, although his campaign got off to a delayed start as he recovered from a foot injury.

He scored a try in his first appearance of the season, which was a heavy defeat at Pau in the European Champions Cup, but he has gone on to lead Leicester in back-to-back Prem wins against Northampton and Bristol that have sent Tigers top of the table.

“I’ve loved every minute of being captain and being able to lead this group,” Chessum said.

“Leadership is one of those things that I liken it to golf; people say you never master it. And leadership is exactly the same – you are constantly looking for ways to improve.

“The leadership stuff is all well and good but Geoff [head coach Geoff Parling] makes it very clear to me that week in and week out my job as captain is to first and foremost to play well. I think I’m in the perfect environment for that – the coaches we have now are constantly driving us to get better as leaders and more importantly as rugby players as well.”