Leicester Tigers have appointed former England and British and Irish Lions lock Geoff Parling as their head coach from subsequent season.

The 41-year-old has signed a long-term deal and replaces former Australia coach Michael Cheika, who leaves after only one season at Welford Highway.

Parling, who received two Premiership titles as a Tigers participant, is presently an assistant coach with Australia and can take over in August after working with the Wallabies for the sequence towards the British and Irish Lions.

“I used to be fortunate sufficient to have some unbelievable moments within the Leicester Tigers jersey, made by way of laborious work by good individuals, and so I’m extraordinarily proud to be coming again to guide the membership,” Parling informed the membership’s web site., exterior

“There will not be many alternatives that may make myself and my household take into consideration leaving Australia, the place we have known as house for the previous seven years, however coming again to Leicester Tigers is one which we’re actually wanting ahead to.”

Parling performed nearly 100 occasions in six seasons with the Tigers after becoming a member of them from Newcastle in 2009 and received England 29 caps.

He toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 2013, beginning the second and third Assessments, and likewise performed for Exeter, Munakata Sanix Blues in Japan and Melbourne Rebels earlier than retiring in 2018 and shifting into teaching with the now-defunct Australian franchise.

He has labored as an assistant coach with the Wallabies since 2020.

“He’s a excessive calibre coach, sturdy chief, and understands this membership,” mentioned Tigers chairman Tom Scott. “He achieved success right here as a participant and we consider he’ll as a coach.”

“Geoff has made nice strides in his teaching profession over the previous eight years and we’re excited that we are going to be part of his subsequent chapter, one that may final lengthy into the longer term, at Leicester Tigers.”