Leicester have appointed former Tigers and England lock and current Australia assistant Geoff Parling as their head coach from next season. 

The Welford Road outfit have been scrambling around for a new boss since they learned incumbent Michael Cheika would be leaving at the end of the current campaign. 

Paul Gustard, Leon MacDonald and Stuart Lancaster were all linked with succeeding Cheika, but it is the 41-year-old Parling who will now take on the role. 

Parling will join Leicester in August after being a part of Australia’s set-up for their hotly-anticipated series with the British & Irish Lions Down Under. 

Parling said: ‘I was lucky enough to have some incredible moments in the Leicester Tigers jersey. 

‘I am extremely proud to be coming back to lead the club. 

Geoff Parling (centre) has been appointed as the new head coach of the Leicester Tigers

Parling is a former England lock and the current assistant of the Australia national team

‘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. 

‘Coming back to Leicester is one we are really looking forward to. I know the club is looking for stability and I will be focused on building an environment with strong foundations, where people can see what it means to be a Tiger.’ 

Leicester won the Gallagher Premiership title in 2022, but then lost their title-winning coach Steve Borthwick to England. 

Dan McKellar lasted just one season with Cheika parachuted in last summer but only on a short-term deal. It has meant a significant period of upheaval. 

Leicester hope Parling’s ‘long-term’ contract will bring an end to that. As a player, Parling won three Premiership titles, including two with Leicester. 

He will undoubtedly be a popular appointment with Tigers fans given his past connection to the club. Parling made more than 300 senior appearances in a professional career that spanned 15 seasons in England, Japan, and Australia. 

In six seasons at Tigers, he made almost a century of appearances for the club and represented both England and the Lions at Test level. 

Prior to joining the Wallabies, Parling was an assistant coach with the Melbourne Rebels. 

Leicester have been scrambling around for a new boss since they learned incumbent Michael Cheika would be leaving

Parling moved straight into coaching with the Rebels after retiring as a player and in 2020, was recruited by then Australia chief Dave Rennie to join his coaching team. 

At the beginning of 2024, he left the Rebels after new Australian coach Joe Schmidt appointed him to his Wallabies coaching team full-time. 

Leicester chief executive officer Andrea Pinchen said: ‘It is brilliant to be able to announce the appointment of Geoff Parling as our new head coach from next season on a long-term deal. 

‘We, like our supporters and everyone involved at the club, want stability in the role of head coach and took our time in reaching this decision to ensure we found the right person to provide that for the club. 

‘Geoff has a great knowledge of Leicester and the demands of the Premiership and European rugby. He has been very clear in his want to build an environment that not only sees players reach their potential, but delivers on the demands of success from our supporters. 

‘He is passionate about developing his players and coaches, clear in the identity of his team and committed to bringing through Leicester Tigers-made players from the pathway programme. 

‘We are pleased this process has concluded, resulting in a high-quality appointment from the hard work that has gone into it. We can now enjoy what is going to be an exciting finish to Michael Cheika’s tenure as head coach.’ 

Cheika’s one and only season with Leicester could yet end with the Premiership title.

Under his guidance, the Tigers are currently second in the table and are in a fine position to seal a play-off spot with two rounds of the regular season still to play.