Geoff Parling appointed as Leicester Tigers head coach, replaces Michael Cheika from next season

Geoff Parling has been appointed as the head coach for Leicester Tigers, the English Premiership club announced on Monday.

The former Leicester Tigers star will be replacing Michael Cheika starting from next season after the end of his assistant coach role with the Wallabies, Australia’s national team, Reuters reported.

Who is Geoff Parling?

The 41-year-old hails from the Stockton-on-Tees town in the UK. Over the past few decades, Parling had an impressive career, both as rugby player and coach.

An official release from the Tigers stated that Parling is scheduled to take up the reins in August this year, post the 2025 British & Irish Lions Series.

As a player, Parling made over 300 senior appearances, with his professional career spanning for a total of 15 seasons. This includes games in England, Australia and Japan.

He bagged 29 England caps as a player and appeared in all three Tests, when the side defeated Australia 2-1 more than a decade ago.

He won three Premierships, which includes two with the Leicester Tigers.

Parling made nearly a century of appearances with the Tigers in six seasons. He represented the British & Irish Lions as well as England at the Test level.

He is now all set to replace former Australia coach, Michael Cheika, whose contract is expiring at the end of the campaign.

As per reports, the English club remained aware from the beginning that Cheika will leave the side after serving its head coach for a year.

Apart from the Tigers, Parling also featured in Newcastle Falcons from 2003 to 2009, Exeter Chiefs (2015–2017), Munakata Sanix Blues and Melbourne Rebels.

According to ESPN, Parling began his career as a coach with the Melbourne Rebels. Thereafter, he joined the Wallabies in 2020. Later on, she became permanent under Joe Schmidt last year.

'Right person' Geoff Parling

On Parling's appointment, Leicester Tigers chairman Tom Scott in a statement said this was "vital for us" to have the "right person" for leading the side in the future.

Scott added that Parling was roped in after a "rigorous process".

After being "lucky enough" to witness "incredible moments" in the club's jersey, Parling said he now feels "extremely proud" to be back in the side.

He noted that he did not get enough opportunities that made him and his family think about moving out of Australia, which remained their "home" for the past seven years.

But shifting back to the Tigers is something they were "really looking forward to.”

Parling knows that the Tigers wish for "stability" in their side and he looks forward to build an environment with "strong foundations".

FAQs

1. How long was Geoff Parling associated with Leicester Tigers as a player?
He remained with the side for six years and bagged two Premiership titles.


2. Who replaces Geoff Parling as assistant coach of Australia’s national team?
He remains with the Wallabies till the end of the test series against the British & Irish Lions and will only join the Tigers in August. So far, his replacement has not been announced by the Wallabies.