The Melbourne Rebels are pleased to confirm Geoff Parling as the newest and final addition to the Wallabies coaching group, led by Joe Schmidt.
Geoff’s appointment demonstrates that not only is there a significant pathway for Victorian player talent through the Melbourne Rebels, but also opportunities for coaches who may not fit the traditional model in other states and programs. Having been involved in an environment that looks at high-performance across it’s multiple facets, from the professional on-field through to the interconnected club and community systems that support it.
Never shying away from helping at his local rugby club, it’s not an uncommon sight to see the Rebels’ Assistant down at local games or training sessions across Melbourne. Understanding the value of the grassroots, and the role it plays in his adoptive home city.
Always willing to impart his wisdom to young players as well as helping to develop Victorian Coaches along the way, Parling has become a favourite among proud Rebels fans and members.
After joining the Melbourne Rebels in 2018 as a mobile lock with an abundance of experience at Club and International level, Geoff Parling has well and truly left his mark on the Melbourne Rebels’ identity. Parling went on to play an 11-game season with the Melbourne side, running the lineouts from the field with the likes of Adam Coleman and Matt Philip.
After finishing his playing career in 2019 with the Rebels, his sights set on a new role; transferring his skillset to the other side of the white line.
Having worked with the Rebels forwards in what is now his sixth season as an Assistant Coach, Parling has fine tuned his coaching skills and evolved as a coach which has produced success at lineout time in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. In that time he has had the opportunity to work with a host of elite players at one of the highest levels, but also experience the many variations of being part of a Super Rugby High Performance Program.
Implementing his passion and knowledge for the lineout and maul at his new club came with multiple other responsibilities, including the development of many Victorian Rebels in the pathway system. With the likes of Josh Canham, Jordan Uelese and Daniel Maiava crediting their growth in part to Parling’s influence.
It is a testament to his level of detail and depth of understanding that such successful players have come through the Club and achieved such high honours.
The next step for Parling is a move to the Wallabies coaching staff. In what will be his second opportunity in the position, briefly working with the Wallabies in 2020, he will take on the mantle as Wallabies Lineout Coach full time.
Having run the lineout as part of Rennie’s Wallabies coaching team, Parling has also been involved in the national system since, operating in the same role with the Australia A team during their Pacific Nations Cup campaign in 2022.
Joining Schmidt’s coaching team of Mike Cron and Laurie Fischer, Geoff will add another element of Super Rugby experience and player understanding that will be crucial to the Wallabies’ success.
Parling will complete the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific Season with the Melbourne Rebels and begin with the Wallabies in early July.
