England internationals Ollie and Lewis Chessum returned to their old stomping ground recently when they visited Carre’s Grammar School. Joined by their Leicester Tigers teammate Jack van Poortvliet, they were on hand to help raise awareness of an ambitious national initiative launched by Gallagher to boost rugby participation in schools across the UK.
The brothers – both rising stars of English rugby and the Gallagher PREM regulars – joined forces with Gallagher, title partners of the Gallagher PREM, to introduce the Gallagher Touchline Academy to Carre’s Grammar School. The programme aims to upskill teachers in rugby coaching, giving schools greater confidence, resources, and opportunities to inspire young people to take up the sport. It aims to upskill 2,000 teachers across the country by 2028, in turn helping to grow the game and bring rugby to new audiences.
Taking Gallagher PREM stars back to their roots…
Part of the Gallagher Touchline Academy’s ethos is about recognising that early influences in schools can shape individuals’ lives. For the Chessum brothers, that meant returning to Carre’s Grammar School in Sleaford, where their rugby journeys first gathered momentum.
Commenting on the day, Ollie Chessum said: “Being back at my old school, Carre’s Grammar School, was so special. It’s where it all started for me and where my love for the game really began. The influence of teachers there was massive for me, and that’s why programmes like the Gallagher Touchline Academy are so important. By giving teachers the confidence and skills to bring rugby into more schools, it’s creating more opportunities for young people to get involved in the game and helping the sport continue to grow.”
Watch some footage taken on the day via Gallagher’s Instagram and LinkedIn pages:
Helping teachers and inspiring pupils…
The Gallagher Touchline Academy delivers free training, resources, and practical workshops to teachers, many of whom support school rugby programmes without formal coaching qualifications. By strengthening grassroots delivery, the initiative hopes to increase both participation and interest in watching rugby at all levels. Teachers and schools can sign-up by visiting the website.
Representatives from Gallagher joined the Chessum brothers at Carre’s to run a series of practical sessions and meet with staff. Students were treated to coaching demonstrations, Q&As, and the chance to hear firsthand about life in professional rugby.
Nick Harris, CEO of Gallagher’s broking business, which supports companies across the UK and Ireland, commented: “It is fantastic to have Ollie and Lewis Chessum and Jack van Poortvliet show their support for the Gallagher Touchline Academy, and engage with some of the brilliant teachers and coaches who make it the success it is.
“We are incredibly proud of the Academy and the important work it does to help nurture the next generation of rugby stars and will continue to offer this at no cost to schools in the hope to engage as many teachers as possible. We remain committed to our goal of upskilling 2,000 teachers by 2028, boosting access to and diversity within this fantastic sport.”
Head of Rugby at Carre’s, Mr Offer, said: “This visit has been a huge inspiration for our students. Seeing alumni like Ollie and Lewis return as Gallagher PREM and International players shows our students what’s possible. The support from Gallagher will make a real difference to our PE and rugby provision.”
Students commented on the day:
“I think it’s really cool that they’ve come back to our school. It’s a nice thing to do, especially for those students who watch them play and look up to them, getting to meet them has been awesome.”
“We aspire to become professional rugby players, and because Ollie and Lewis used to be students at our school too, it seems more achievable.”
“It has been great to hang out with the professional players today. We’ve been able to interview them and play a bit of a warm-up game with them. We want to follow in their footsteps.”
The event marks one of the first school visits with Gallagher PREM players to drive awareness of the Gallagher Touchline Academy as the initiative continues to deliver rugby teaching training to educators across the country.
Ollie Chessum is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Gallagher PREM club Leicester Tigers and the England national team.
Lewis Chessum is an English professional lock for Leicester Tigers who has captained the England Under‑20 side.
Jack van Poortvliet is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a scrumhalf for Gallagher PREM club Leicester Tigers and the England national team.
