Rugby Coach Geoff Parling to Leave Wallabies for Leicester Tigers
In a significant development in the world of rugby, Geoff Parling has announced that he will be leaving his position as assistant coach of the Wallabies to take up the role of head coach at Leicester Tigers. According to a report by ESPN, Parling will continue to work with the Wallabies through their 2025 series against the British & Irish Lions before taking up his new role at Leicester.
Parling, a former England lock, has had an illustrious playing career, with spells at Newcastle Falcons, Exeter Chiefs, Munakata Sanix Blues, and Melbourne Rebels. He also made 29 appearances for England and was part of the 2013 Lions tour of Australia, winning three Test caps. As ESPN notes, Parling played for Leicester from 2009-2015 and won two Premiership titles during his time at the club.
The 38-year-old began his coaching career with the Melbourne Rebels and joined the Wallabies in 2020, becoming a permanent member of the coaching team under Joe Schmidt in 2024. Parling expressed his excitement about returning to Leicester, saying, “I was lucky enough have some incredible moments in the Leicester Tigers jersey, made through hard work by good people, and so I am extremely proud to be coming back to lead the club.” As quoted by ESPN, Parling added, “There are not many opportunities that would make myself and my family think about leaving Australia, the place we’ve called home for the past seven years, but coming back to Leicester Tigers is one that we are really looking forward to.”
Parling’s appointment as head coach at Leicester Tigers comes at a time when the club is looking for stability and a new direction. He will be tasked with building a strong team culture and achieving success on the pitch. As ESPN reports, Parling said, “I know the club is looking for stability, and I will be focused on building an environment with strong foundations, where people can see both what is needed and what it means to be a Tiger.”
Rugby Australia’s Director of High Performance, Peter Horne, paid tribute to Parling’s contribution to the Wallabies, saying, “Since arriving in Australia, Geoff has given his heart and soul to Australian Rugby and for that we are very grateful.” As cited by ESPN, Horne added, “We are obviously sad to see him go but we understand the opportunity presented to him by Leicester Tigers is a good one for his family and career.”
The British & Irish Lions tour of Australia is set to take place in 2025, and Parling will continue to work with the Wallabies throughout the series. The news of his appointment as head coach at Leicester Tigers is a significant coup for the club, and fans will be eager to see how he performs in his new role. According to ESPN, the Wallabies will look forward to working with Parling through the Lions series, and he will always be a friend of Australian Rugby.
For more information on the British & Irish Lions fixtures for the Australia tour, fans can check out the ESPN website.
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