Leicester Tigers boss Geoff Parling has found himself in the spotlight after a heated clash with TV presenter Craig Doyle went viral. Before their match against Gloucester, tensions flared when Doyle and his colleague Liam MacDevitt decided to play a cheeky ‘initiation’ challenge, kicking for goal right where the Tigers were warming up. Not the best timing!
Parling, clearly miffed, marched over, telling Doyle in no uncertain terms that it was “f***ing not on,” even giving him a shove. Doyle apologised on-air for the colourful language, but not before the incident caught the eyes of viewers everywhere.
Despite the fiery pre-match drama, the Tigers roared to a 36-17 victory, clinching the Slater Cup. But that’s not where the story ends! Parling later revealed that TNT’s producer apologised for the unexpected on-air antics, saying the stunt hadn’t been cleared with the team. Understandably protective of his players, Parling stressed the importance of avoiding risks, especially with balls flying around.
In an unexpected twist, Parling has now issued his own apology. In a Sunday statement, Leicester Tigers and Parling acknowledged their response was over the top. They aim to put the incident behind them and focus on celebrating the excitement of The Slater Cup. Parling expressed gratitude towards Doyle and TNT for their innovative approach and emphasised the importance of staying aligned on fresh ideas to captivate new audiences.
Let’s hope it’s smooth sailing from here on out for Parling and Doyle. Rugby, after all, is all about passion—sometimes it just boils over! Here’s to more memorable matches and fewer viral moments of the heated kind.