Geoff Parling

{{short description|British Lions & England international rugby union player & coach}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Geoff Parling

| image = Geoff Parling (cropped).png

| caption = Parling playing for Leicester Tigers in 2012

| birth_name = Geoff Parling

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1983|10|28}}

| birth_place = Stockton-on-Tees, England

| height = {{convert|1.99|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|117|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url= http://www.leicestertigers.com/rugby/leicester_tigers_senior_squad.php?player=4817&includeref=dynamic|title= Leicester Tigers: The Team|publisher= Leicester Tigers website|access-date =2 November 2014}}

| school = Ian Ramsey C of E School and Durham School

| university = Newcastle University

| relatives =

| position = Lock

| years1 = 2003–2009

| clubs1 = Newcastle Falcons

| apps1 = 116

| points1 = 40

| years2 = 2009–2015

| clubs2 = Leicester Tigers

| apps2 = 93

| points2 = 15

| years3 = 2015–2017

| clubs3 = Exeter Chiefs

| apps3 = 50

| points3 = 5

| years4 = 2017–2018

| clubs4 = Munakata Sanix Blues

| apps4 = 12

| points4 = 0

| years5 = 2018

| clubs5 = Melbourne Rebels

| apps5 = 11

| points5 = 0

| totalyears = 2003–2018

| totalapps = 282

| totalpoints = 60

| repyears1 = 2012–2015

| repteam1 = {{nrut|England}}

| repcaps1 = 29

| reppoints1 = 5

| repyears2 = 2013

| repteam2 = British & Irish Lions

| repcaps2 = 3

| reppoints2 = 0

| coachyears1 = 2020—2025

| coachteams1 = {{nrut|Australia}} (Forwards Coach)

| coachyears2 = 2025–

| coachteams2 = Leicester Tigers (Head Coach)

}}

Geoff Parling (born 28 October 1983) is an English rugby union coach and former player. His usual playing position was lock.

Parling played for Newcastle Falcons, Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs in Premiership Rugby, he won three English titles as a player, two with Leicester in 2010 and 2013 then again with Exeter in 2017. He played in Japan for Munakata Sanix Blues and for Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby.

He won 29 caps for {{nrut|England}}, appearing at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and won three caps for the British & Irish Lions on the 2013 tour to Australia.

After retiring from playing Parling worked as a forwards coach, including for the {{nrut|Australia}} national team.

On 12 May 2025 he was appointed as Leicester Tigers head coach for the start of the 2025-26 Premiership Rugby season.

Early life and education

Parling was born in Stockton-on-Tees, England. He studied business and economics at Newcastle University.https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/an-englishman-abroad/

Rugby playing career

=Junior level=

Parling represented England at Under 16s, Under 18s, Under 19s, and Under 21 level.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/3844941.stm|title=Wales U21 19–26 England U21|publisher=BBC|date=27 June 2004|access-date=15 December 2009}}

=Club level=

After university Parling began his club career at Newcastle Falcons. Parling became a first team regular in the 2005–06 season, winning the players' player of the year award.{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk/113_564.php|title=Newcastle profile|publisher=Newcastle Falcons Official site|date=25 April 2009|access-date=15 December 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019065831/http://www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk/113_564.php|archive-date=19 October 2008}} Parling captained Newcastle on several occasions during the 2006–07 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk/36_2296.php |title=Petrarca Padova 6 Newcastle Falcons 50 |publisher=Newcastle Falcons Official site |date=21 January 2007 |access-date=15 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330123316/http://www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk/36_2296.php |archive-date=30 March 2010 }} He was the runner-up for the Gatorade Performance of the Guinness Premiership Season 2008–09.

Parling signed a contract to play for Leicester Tigers for the 2009/10 season.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/leicester/8168201.stm|title=Allen and Parling sign for Tigers|publisher=BBC|date=24 July 2009|access-date=15 December 2009}}

Parling's debut for Leicester Tigers came against the club he had just left, and his first start for the club was in the Heineken Cup clash with Benetton Treviso. He also played in the Friendly match against {{nrut|South Africa}}, which the Tigers won 22–17.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8347892.stm|title=Leicester 22–17 South Africa|publisher=BBC Sport|date=6 November 2009|access-date=15 June 2010}}

Injuries to other Tigers players helped him to hold down a starting berth at lock, and the Tigers topped the table. They went on to win the 2009–10 Guinness Premiership final 33–27 against Saracens.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/8708250.stm|title=Leicester 33-27 Saracens|date=29 May 2010}} Parling stole a vital line-out in the final minute of the game, which was right on the Tigers' try-line. He was voted Newcomer of the Year by Tigers supporters.{{cite web|url=http://www.leicestertigers.com/news/14921.php|title=Hamilton named Supporters' Player of the Season|publisher=Leicester Tigers website|date=4 May 2010|access-date=15 June 2010}}

Parling won a second Premiership title in 2013, this time defeating Northampton Saints in the final.{{cite news

|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/22656677

|title=Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton

|publisher=BBC

|date=25 May 2013 |access-date=9 February 2020}}

On 29 January 2015, it was announced Parling had signed for Exeter Chiefs on a two-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31024577|title=Geoff Parling: Exeter Chiefs to sign Leicester Tigers lock|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 January 2015}} He started the final as Exeter Chiefs defeated Wasps to be crowned champions of the 2016–17 English Premiership.{{cite web

|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40018239

|title=Premiership final: Wasps 20-23 Exeter Chiefs (aet)

|publisher=BBC

|date=27 May 2017 |access-date=24 September 2018}}

=International level=

Parling was added to the revised England Saxons squad as cover for Nick Kennedy on 25 January 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.rfu.com/News/2010/January/News%20Articles/250110_Revised_Saxons |title=England Saxons EPS Update |publisher=RFU Official site |date=25 January 2010 |access-date=25 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129170414/http://www.rfu.com/News/2010/January/News%20Articles/250110_Revised_Saxons |archive-date=29 January 2010 }} He played in the wins against Ireland A and Italy A.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8490193.stm|title=England Saxons 17–13 Ireland A |publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 January 2010|access-date=15 June 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/article-1805357-detail/article.html|title=Leicester Tigers star handed England Saxons start|publisher=Leicester Mercury online|date=4 February 2010|access-date=15 June 2010}} Parling was selected in the 44-man {{nrut|England}} squad to tour Australia in June 2010, and played in the first game against the Australian Barbarians,{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8724517.stm|title = Aussie Barbarians 28-28 England|date = 8 June 2010}} though missed out on selection for the second as a result of a neck injury.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/sport/Tiger-Parling-missed-England-match-injury/article-2307382-detail/article.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120509200112/http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/sport/Tiger-Parling-missed-England-match-injury/article-2307382-detail/article.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 May 2012|title=Tiger Parling missed England match through injury|publisher=Leicester Mercury online|date=15 June 2010|access-date=15 June 2010}}

In January 2012, Parling was called up to the England senior squad in preparation for their Six Nations campaign as an injury replacement for Louis Deacon. He earned two caps off the bench before starting at lock against Wales, in a tightly fought loss. His good performance (particularly at the line-out) saw him retained at lock for the following wins against France and Ireland, where he put in even better performances which saw him run the offensive and defensive line-outs well. He finished the tournament as the first-choice lock, ahead of Tom Palmer.

In April 2013, Parling was selected for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. He played in each Test, coming on as a replacement in the first Test and starting in the second and third. He also captained one of the tour games.https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/british-irish-lions-tour-2013-4701581

= Playing honours =

Leicester

2x Gallagher Premiership: 2010, 2013

Exeter

1x Gallagher Premiership: 2017

Lions

1x Test Series: 2013

=International tries=

Try	Opposing team	Location	Venue	Competition	Date	Result
class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
1	{{ru\|Scotland}}	London, England	Twickenham	2013 Six Nations Championship	{{dts\|format=dmy\|2013\|2\|2}}	Won

=Super Rugby statistics=

{{updated|15 July 2018|{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_1311.html | title=Player Statistics | work=It's Rugby}}}}

Season	Team	Games	Starts	Sub	Mins	Tries	Cons	Pens	Drops	Points	Yel	Red
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; line-height:90%; font-size:95%; width:60%;"
2018	{{Rut\|Rebels}}	11	6	5	467	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total \|\| 11 \|\| 6 \|\| 5 \|\| 467 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0 \|\| 0

Rugby coaching career

After retirement from playing in 2018 Parling became lineout coach for the Melbourne Rebels.

In September 2020 Parling was appointed as {{nrut|Australia}}'s forward coach in Dave Rennie's new coaching team.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54204436|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Geoff Parling: Australia hire ex-England lock as coach|date=18 September 2020|access-date=21 August 2021}}

In May 2025 Parling was announced as the new head coach of Leicester Tigers on what was described as a long term deal.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c2e37mzvgdno

Personal life

Parling is married with three children.https://www.rugbypass.com/plus/an-englishman-abroad/

References

External links

[http://www.leicestertigers.com/squad/players.php?player=4817&includeref=dynamic Geoff Parling profile] at Leicester Tigers
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130925162627/http://www.rfu.com/squadsandplayers/englandelite/geoffparling Geoff Parling profile] at the RFU

Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of Newcastle University

Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England

Category:England international rugby union players

Category:English rugby union players

Category:Exeter Chiefs players

Category:English expatriate rugby union players in Australia

Category:English expatriate rugby union players in Japan

Category:Leicester Tigers players

Category:Melbourne Rebels coaches

Category:Melbourne Rebels players