Ex-England lock Parling 'excited' at facing Lions

Former England lock Geoff Parling says coaching against the British and Irish Lions will be a “unique experience” that he “can’t play down”.

Parling, who starred for the Lions in Australia in 2013, will join Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies staff in July.

In 2025 he will become the first man to play for - and coach against - the Lions in a Test series.

“It is going to be incredible – I can’t play that down – it will be a great experience,” he said.

Speaking to the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, Parling, who won 29 England caps, added: “It’s really, really exciting but you’ve also got to perform. As we know, it can go one of two ways.

“So I am really excited about it, but not just [the Lions]. We are playing two Tests against Wales and one against Georgia in July. I am also excited about that opportunity there.

“When I did the stint with [former Australia coach] Dave Rennie in 2020 it was during Covid and my family couldn’t come to any of the games. So I am excited about having my wife and three kids experiencing an international game when I am coaching.

“So there are lots of things before that Lions tour as well, but I do appreciate that is a pretty unique experience to be involved in again.”

Australian rugby is in desperate need of a lift. Currently ninth in the world rankings, the Wallabies went out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup at the pool stage, with head coach Eddie Jones departing shortly after.

But the arrival of the decorated Schmidt has led to renewed optimism Australian rugby can recover, with the Lions tour followed by the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027 and the women’s showpiece in 2029.

“Everyone speaks about the golden decade ahead of us, and I think there is a golden opportunity ahead of us with the Lions tour and the men’s World Cup and women’s World Cup,” Parling said.

“Obviously for the lads who were involved in that [2023] World Cup experience, there is lots of frustration there because it didn’t go well.

“But I think there is really good blend here of rugby nous and some really good athletes. In general, people move in Australia better than in the UK. The population are better movers. If you are brought up being outside all the time, I do think in general you move a bit better.

“And you combine that with some of the Pacific power here as well. There is definitely an opportunity here, I am telling you.”

After a trophy-laden career at Newcastle, Leicester and Exeter, Parling moved to Australia in 2018 for a short-term playing stint at the Melbourne Rebels.

“I came for six months to play, left for six months, and I’ve now been back for five years,” he explained.

“We thought we would just come on an adventure for six months and then we would be back. But an early offer of a job to coach here [changed things]. I had a great opportunity to settle here and thought it would be awesome.”

And as well as coaching against the Lions, for who he played a key role in the series victory in 2013, Parling will also come up against England at Twickenham when the Wallabies tour in November.

“There are two sides when you are coaching. You have the professional hat on, and you realise you could coach against teams that you have a lot of affection for. That’s what happens,” Parling said.

“But there is always a little pull on the heartstrings when you are coaching against - and for - teams that mean a little bit more to you.

“Australia is home now for me, and I am actually a dual-passport holder. So I feel like I almost have two homes now, they are just on different sides of the world.”