Parling takes on Wallabies role

By Mark Stevens
18/9/20

Former Exeter Chiefs star Geoff Parling has been named as Australia’s new forwards coach for the 2020 season.

The 36-year-old - who made 50 appearances for the Chiefs, including helping the Chiefs to lift the Premiership title in 2017 - currently assumes the same role with Super Rugby side, the Melbourne Rebels.

After an illustrious playing career that included 29 Tests for England and a Lions Series win in 2013, Parling has since enjoyed a successful transition into coaching, where he has turned the Melbourne Rebels line-out into a force to be reckoned with during his three years as part of Dave Wessels’ coaching staff.

Commenting on his new role, Parling said: “I’ve really enjoyed helping develop the players we’ve had in Melbourne, so to now get the opportunity to join Dave’s coaching team for this Test season is a real honour.”

“There is some great talent here, but we won’t get anywhere without hard work. I have high expectations of the group and am looking forward to seeing them rip in.”

Qantas Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “We’re very lucky to get the services of someone of Geoff’s ability at such short notice, especially considering he already has an intimate knowledge of the players.

“He is a good man. He’s technically very strong around line-out and maul and he has impressed me with his work ethic to get up to speed over the last two weeks.

“There have been a lot of challenges so far in 2020 and we’ve had to be agile and adaptable, none more so than Geoff who has already made so many sacrifices while being on the road with Rebels this season but he still jumped at the opportunity to join our team,” Rennie said.

Parling will return to Melbourne following the Wallabies 2020 Test season, ahead of the Rebels 2021 Vodafone Super Rugby season.

Another former Chief, scrum-half Nic White, has been included in Rennie’s first squad and will be looking to add to his tally of 31 Test caps.