Ollie Chessum has enjoyed a rapid rise in English rugby in recent seasons, from Championship second-rower to international forward, and is now watching what he hopes is the same path for younger brother, Lewis, alongside him at Leicester Tigers.
Speaking at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, following the side's final training session in preparation for the Gallagher Premiership away game against Newcastle Falcons, Chessum spoke about the pride he has at seeing Lewis continue on his journey.
"I am extremely proud to see him play for this club," said Chessum (senior).
"His ambitions were the same as mine as a young lad and he has excelled when he's had opportunities, which has been brilliant to see.
"He has matured, grown into his body now and growing into his potential. There is a long way to go for him, a lot of improvement and he's enjoying his rugby.
"It would be an awesome thing to be able to pack down alongside him one day in a Tigers shirt."
Discussing his own season, which he described as "stop-start" compared to a decorated and memorable one in 2021/22, he pointed towards hoping to continue to build as the second-half of the current camapign.
"This year has a been more stop-start than last season," admitted Chessum.
"Delays on the back of the Australian tour and an injury early on in the season has stopped a bit of momentum, but I feel like I am building into the season nicely now and just trying to keep contributing to what we are doing here as a club."
Capable of playing in both the second and back-row, Chessum has become a versatile member of a Tigers pack which is down on troops heading into the Falcons fixture.
Asked about what he aims to offer for Richard Wigglesworth in versatility, he said it wasn't something he was trying to do by design but instead would put himself wherever the Head Coach - and his predecessor Steve Borthwick - wanted and needed him for his team.
"I was probably a bit slimmer when I first arrived, so led to me being in the back-row, but have slowly headed towards the second row," he said.
"I haven't gone after trying to be a versatile player but it is something I have, something that allows me to contribute in my way and I just want to do that."
On Wigglesworth's first fortnight in charge, Chessum called for more "credit" to be paid to his former team-mate, turned coach.
"He has been unbelievable and hasn't got enough credit for what he has actually done," said Chessum.
"The decision to give up a career, let alone the one he had of which is like no other player, for us and to lead us is something that deserves so much more credit.
"It is a huge change, to just hang up the boots and take on such a responsibility at such a big club has been incredible and has vowed to give his everything to us, which we will be doing for him every day."
Previewing the trip to the North East, he said: "We have looked at every part of their game, like we do every week."
"It's an exciting game, against a team who have had some brilliant results this year and we know it will be a big challenge up there at their home ground.
"As a pack, we've got our job to do and want to do the best we can for the team on Saturday to give the best performance we can as a whole squad against Newcastle Falcons."
