Thursday Round-Up

New Chapter for Parling: Leicester Tigers second row forward Geoff Parling has confirmed he will be plying his trade elsewhere next season, after both himself and the club have decided to part ways at the end of the current campaign. Parling, who has been at the club since leaving the Newcastle Falcons back in 2009, will take up a contract with Devon based outfit the Exeter Chiefs, under the tutelage of head coach Rob Baxter. 31 year old Parling has excelled in Leciester colours since joining five years ago, amassing an impressive 21 international caps under a string of English head coaches. Having impressed on the international scene back in 2013, Parling went on to represent the British and Irish Lions on their 2013 tour of Australia, where he featured in all three of the high-profile Test matches. With an abundance of graft and skill still left to offer, Parling represents the Chiefs’ second foray into the Leicester Tigers squad in two years, after pinching Thomas Waldrom last season, while also marking the club’s first major signing ahead of the 2015/2016 season.

Armitage questioned: Reports emerging out of French rugby circles are today suggesting that Toulon pair Steffon Armitage and Xavier Chiocci have been arrested by local police in the south of France, over an alleged fight which took place last month. Having been summoned to the police station late on Wednesday evening, local newspapers are suggesting their arrests are linked to an attack on a 30 year old man during a party which followed the reigning European Champions’ group stage victory over the Leicester Tigers on December 13th. According to the current version of the story, both players are pleading their innocence on the basis of not remembering what happened. No representative from Toulon has commented on the situation as yet.

Ryan Sheady