Geoff Parling will leave his position as assistant coach of the Wallabies to take over as head coach at Leicester Tigers before next season.
Parling will continue to coach Australia during their 2025 series against the British & Irish Lions before taking up the role at Leicester. He will be part of the new leadership group as they plan for life after Michael Cheika, who departs at the end of the season.
The former second row Parling played for Leicester from 2009 to 2015 and won two Premiership titles.
His playing career also included spells with Newcastle Falcons, Exeter Chiefs, Munakata Sanix Blues, and Melbourne Rebels. He also made 29 appearances for England and won three test matches on the 2013 Lions tour to Australia.
He began his coaching career with the Melbourne Rebels and started working with the Wallabies in 2020 before joining permanently under Joe Schmidt in 2024.
I was fortunate enough to have some incredible moments in a Leicester Tigers shirt, achieved through the hard work of good people, and so I am very proud to be back to lead the club.
Parling
There aren’t many opportunities that would make me and my family think about leaving Australia, the place we’ve called home for the last seven years, but returning to Leicester Tigers is something we are looking forward to.
Parling
I know the club is looking for stability, and I will focus on building an environment with solid foundations, where people can see both what is needed and what it means to be a Tiger.
Parling
Rugby Australia’s High Performance Director, Peter Horne, said:
Since arriving in Australia, Geoff has given his heart and soul to Australian rugby and for that we are very grateful.
Horne
Obviously, we are saddened to see him leave, but we understand that the opportunity presented to him by the Leicester Tigers is good for his family and his career.
Horne
The Wallabies look forward to working with Geoff during the Lions series and he will always be a friend of Australian rugby.
Horne
The content of the news ends here.
