New role for former Chief Parling

By Mark Stevens
14/11/18

Former Exeter Chiefs forward Geoff Parling is to embark on his first foray into senior coaching after he was named as part of the Melbourne Rebels staff for the 2019 season.

Parling departed Sandy Park at the end of the 2016-17 season, having just helped the Devon club to lift the Premiership title for the first time in the club's history with an extra-time win over Wasps at Twickenham.

The 35-year-old former British and Irish Lions and England lock played 50 times for the Chiefs during his two-year stint with the club, before heading off to Japan to play for Munakata Sanix Blues and then onto Australia to link up with the Rebels.

Now, Parling moves from to the locker room into the coaches ball pen as line-out coach, teaming up with Head Coach David Wessels and his assistants Shaun Berne (attack) and Kevin Foote (defence), as well as fellow newcomer Nic Henderson, who will step up to coach at the Super Rugby level for the first time as the club’s newly appointed Scrum Consultant.

Former British and Irish Lion and England lock Geoff Parling moves from the locker room into the coaches ball pen as line-out coach, while foundation Rebel Nic Henderson will step up to coach at the Super Rugby level for the first time as the club’s newly-appointed scrum consultant.

Head Coach David Wessels is confident the coaching staff assembled would allow the Rebels to go on to stronger performances in 2019.

“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,” said Wessels. “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 and Geoff 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 in recent years 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 Nic and Geoff have been around the Club for a while now and they understand the high standards we have set for ourselves. 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,” stated Wessels.