Leicester Tigers have appointed former England and British and Irish Lions lock Geoff Parling as their head coach from next season.
The 41-year-old has signed a long-term deal and replaces former Australia coach Michael Cheika, who leaves after just one season at Welford Road.
Parling, who won two Premiership titles as a Tigers player, is currently an assistant coach with Australia and will take over in August after working with the Wallabies for the series against the British and Irish Lions.
“I was lucky enough to 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,” Parling told the club’s website., external
“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 played almost 100 times in six seasons with the Tigers after joining them from Newcastle in 2009 and won England 29 caps.
He toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 2013, starting the second and third Tests, and also played for Exeter, Munakata Sanix Blues in Japan and Melbourne Rebels before retiring in 2018 and moving into coaching with the now-defunct Australian franchise.
He has worked as an assistant coach with the Wallabies since 2020.
“He is a high calibre coach, strong leader, and understands this club,” said Tigers chairman Tom Scott. “He achieved success here as a player and we believe he will as a coach.”
“Geoff has made great strides in his coaching career over the past eight years and we are excited that we will be a part of his next chapter, one that will last long into the future, at Leicester Tigers.”
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