With Maro Itoje setting the standard, Ollie Chessum says leading England one day would be 'pretty special' and he already loves being a voice on the pitch.
Maro Itoje, the London-born son of Nigerian parents, has become the face of England rugby leadership. Now the conversation has turned to who carries the armband next, and Ollie Chessum's name is firmly in the mix.
The lock has been tipped as a long-term successor to Itoje, and he isn't running from the idea. Chessum says taking the captaincy one day would be "pretty special", while making clear he enjoys stepping up as a leader on the field right now.
That mindset matters. Chessum works in the same engine room as Itoje, so he gets a close-up view of what elite captaincy demands: setting the tone, driving standards and speaking up when the pressure rises. Being linked with the role is a sign of how highly England's coaches and fans rate his influence.
For African and diaspora fans, the succession talk also reflects how far Itoje has raised the bar. A player with Nigerian roots now defines what leading England looks like, and whoever follows will be measured against him.
