Parling begins climb on coaching ladder

FORMER England lock Geoff Parling will join the Rebels’ backroom staff as a lineout coach in 2019.

Parling joined the club as a player this season but always intended to join the coaching ranks when the time came to hang the boots up.

The former British Lion’s coaching career begins now as Rebels boss Dave Wessels’ lineout man and he will work alongside former Rebels and Wallabies prop Nic Henderson, who will step up to coach at the Super Rugby level for the first time as the club’s scrum consultant.

Wessels is excited by the prospect of working with the two former players.

“I’ve been fortunate to have worked with most of this coaching group for a few seasons now and in that time we’ve built up a really good working rapport and honest relationship,” he said.

“Our goal is to build a world-class rugby program. To do that we need committed, knowledgeable staff who are prepared to work as hard as we expect the players to.

“Both Nic (Henderson) and Geoff (Parling) have played rugby at the highest level and will add greater specialisation to our coaching group to help us best support our players to become the best version of themselves.

“Nic has done such a great job developing himself as a coach and he has a great connection with his students.

“Geoff is newer to coaching, but he has the maturity and smarts to provide technical insight as well as the experience of winning cultures.

“Both of Nic and Geoff have been around the Club for a while now and they understand the high standards we have set for ourselves,” Wessels added.

“They are well respected by the playing group and at the same time are known to be tough taskmasters. When the group re-assembles for pre-season, it won’t take long for the players to feel the increased intensity we are going to bring.”

Henderson will continue his role as manager of the Rugby Victoria-Rebels pathway.