Parling joins Wallabies coaching team
FORMER Leicester Tigers lock Geoff Parling has been appointed as the new Wallabies forwards coach, writes Bobby Bridge.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday that Brumbies coach Dan McKeller has pulled out of the race for the role, leaving the Melbourne Rebels assistant coach as the obvious candidate to fill the position.
Wallabies head coach told News Corp Australia: “We are going to go with someone who has the skill set to do the job and has an intimate knowledge of the players.
“So we have asked Geoff
Parling to come in. He is a very highly respected coach among the boys. He is the obvious choice.”
Parling, left, joined Tigers from Newcastle in 2009 and made his England debut three years later.
He went on to play all three Tests as the British and Irish Lions won their 2013 tour of Australia.
Earlier that year, he won a second Premiership title as Tigers defeated Northampton Saints in the final.
He left Welford Road in 2015 to join Exeter Chiefs on a two-year deal and added another Premiership title to his CV after defeating Wasps in the 2016/17 final.
The second row spent time at the Munakata Sanix Blues in Japan and a season playing for the Melbourne Rebels, where he transitioned into coaching after hanging up his boots.
Rennie told Sky Sports: “He is a good man.
“He’s technically very strong around lineout and maul and he has impressed me with his work ethic to get up to speed over the past two weeks.”
Australia begin their international season on October 11 with their first of two Bledisloe Cup Tests against New Zealand.