Geoff Parling

Geoff Parling

Parling playing for Leicester Tigers in 2012
Full name	Geoff Parling
Date of birth	28 October 1983
Place of birth	Stockton-on-Tees, England
Height	1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight	117 kg (18 st 6 lb)[1]
School	m:Durham School
University	Newcastle University
Rugby union career
Current status
Current team	Exeter Chiefs
Playing career
Position	Lock
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2003–2009 2009–2015 2015–	Newcastle Falcons Leicester Tigers Exeter Chiefs	114 92	(30) (15)
correct as of 27 August 2015.
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
2010 2012– 2013	England Saxons England British and Irish Lions	2 29 3	(0) (5) (0)
correct as of 10 October 2015.

Geoff Parling (born 28 October 1983 in Stockton-on-Tees, England) is a rugby union player. He plays for Exeter Chiefs as a lock.

Club career

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 Rugby 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]

On 29 January 2015, it was announced Parling had signed for Exeter Chiefs on a two-year deal.^[8]

International career

Parling represented England at Under 16s, Under 18s, Under 19s, and Under 21 level.^[9]

He was added to the revised England Saxons squad as cover for Nick Kennedy on 25 January 2010.^[10] He played in the wins against Ireland A and Italy A.^[11][12] 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,^[13] though missed out on selection for the second as a result of a neck injury.^[14]

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

Try	Opposing team	Location	Venue	Competition	Date	Result
1	Scotland	London, England	Twickenham	2013 Six Nations Championship	2 February 2013	Won

References

1. "Leicester Tigers: The Team". Leicester Tigers website. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
2. "Newcastle profile". Newcastle Falcons Official site. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
3. "Petrarca Padova 6 Newcastle Falcons 50". Newcastle Falcons Official site. 21 January 2007. 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. "Geoff Parling: Exeter Chiefs to sign Leicester Tigers lock". BBC Sport. 29 January 2015.
9. "Wales U21 19–26 England U21". BBC. 27 June 2004. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
10. "England Saxons EPS Update". RFU Official site. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
11. "England Saxons 17–13 Ireland A". BBC Sport. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
12. "Leicester Tigers star handed England Saxons start". Leicester Mercury online. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
13. Scoggins, Dean (8 June 2010). "Australian Barbarians 28 England 28". London: Sun online. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
14. "Tiger Parling missed England match through injury". Leicester Mercury online. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.

External links

• Geoff Parling profile at Leicester Tigers
• Geoff Parling profile at the RFU