Geoff Parling

Geoff Parling (born 28 October 1983 is an English rugby union player. He plays for Melbourne Rebels as a lock. He has won 29 caps for England and three for the British and Irish Lions.

Geoff Parling
Parling playing for Leicester Tigers in 2012
Birth nameGeoff Parling
Date of birth (1983-10-28) 28 October 1983
Place of birthStockton-on-Tees, England
Height1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight117 kg (18 st 6 lb)[1]
SchoolDurham School
UniversityNewcastle University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2003–2009
2009–2015
2015–2017
2017–2019
2018		 Newcastle Falcons
Leicester Tigers
Exeter Chiefs
Munakata Sanix Blues
Melbourne Rebels		 116
92
49
12
11		 (40)
(15)
(5)
(0)
(0)
Correct as of 27 January 2019
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010-2012
2012–2015
2013		 England Saxons
England
British and Irish Lions		 27
29
3		 (20)
(5)
(0)
Correct as of 10 October 2015

Club career

Parling was born in Stockton-on-Tees, England. After attending Newcastle University, he began his club career at Newcastle Falcons. Parling became a first team regular in the 2005–06 season, winning the players' player of the year award.[2] Parling captained Newcastle on several occasions during the 2006–07 season.[3] He was the runner-up for the Gatorade Performance of the Guinness Premiership Season 2008–09.

He signed a contract to play for Leicester Tigers for the 2009/10 season.[4]

His debut for Leicester Tigers came against the club he had just left, and his first start for the club was in the Heineken Cup clash with Benetton Treviso. He also played in the Friendly match against South Africa, which the Tigers won 22–17.[5]

Injuries to other Tigers players helped him to hold down a starting berth at lock, and the Tigers topped the table. They went on to win the 2009-10 Guinness Premiership final 33–27 against Saracens.[6] Parling stole a vital line-out in the final minute of the game, which was right on the Tigers' try-line. He was voted Newcomer of the Year by Tigers supporters.[7]

Parling won a second Premiership title in 2013, this time defeating Northampton Saints in the final.[8]

On 29 January 2015, it was announced Parling had signed for Exeter Chiefs on a two-year deal.[9] He started the final as Exeter Chiefs defeated Wasps to be crowned champions of the 2016-17 English Premiership.[10]

International career

Parling represented England at Under 16s, Under 18s, Under 19s, and Under 21 level.[11]

He was added to the revised England Saxons squad as cover for Nick Kennedy on 25 January 2010.[12] He played in the wins against Ireland A and Italy A.[13][14] Parling was selected in the 44-man England squad to tour Australia in June 2010, and played in the first game against the Australian Barbarians,[15] though missed out on selection for the second as a result of a neck injury.[16]

In January 2012, Parling was called up to the England senior squad in preparation for their Six Nations campaign as an injury replacement for Louis Deacon. He earned two caps off the bench before starting at lock against Wales, in a tightly-fought loss. His good performance (particularly at the line-out) saw him retained at lock for the following wins against France and Ireland, where he put in even better performances which saw him run the offensive and defensive line-outs well. He finished the tournament as the first-choice lock, ahead of Tom Palmer.

In April 2013, he was selected for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

International tries
TryOpposing teamLocationVenueCompetitionDateResult
1 ScotlandLondon, EnglandTwickenham2013 Six Nations Championship2 February 2013Won

Super Rugby statistics
As of 15 July 2018[17]
SeasonTeamGamesStartsSubMinsTriesConsPensDropsPointsYelRed
2018 Rebels11654670000000
Total11654670000000

References
  1. "Leicester Tigers: The Team". Leicester Tigers website. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  2. "Newcastle profile". Newcastle Falcons Official site. 25 April 2009. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  3. "Petrarca Padova 6 Newcastle Falcons 50". Newcastle Falcons Official site. 21 January 2007. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  4. "Allen and Parling sign for Tigers". BBC. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  5. "Leicester 22–17 South Africa". BBC Sport. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  6. Foy, Chris (31 May 2010). "Tigers pounce to give Lewis Moody a victorious send off". London: Daily Mail.
  7. "Hamilton named Supporters' Player of the Season". Leicester Tigers website. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  8. "Aviva Premiership final: Leicester 37-17 Northampton". BBC. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  9. "Geoff Parling: Exeter Chiefs to sign Leicester Tigers lock". BBC Sport. 29 January 2015.
  10. "Premiership final: Wasps 20-23 Exeter Chiefs (aet)". BBC. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  11. "Wales U21 19–26 England U21". BBC. 27 June 2004. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  12. "England Saxons EPS Update". RFU Official site. 25 January 2010. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  13. "England Saxons 17–13 Ireland A". BBC Sport. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  14. "Leicester Tigers star handed England Saxons start". Leicester Mercury online. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8724517.stm
  16. "Tiger Parling missed England match through injury". Leicester Mercury online. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  17. "Player Statistics". It's Rugby.
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