'I played three tests for the Lions, now I am coaching against them,'

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Former England lock Geoff Parling is bracing himself for a "unique experience" as he prepares to coach against the British and Irish Lions in 2025.

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Parling, who played a key role in the Lions' 2013 triumph in Australia, will join Joe Schmidt's Wallabies setup in July — becoming the first man to both play for and coach against the iconic touring side in a Test series.

"It's going to be incredible — I can't play that down," Parling told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast. "It'll be a great experience, but we know these things can go one of two ways. You've got to perform."

After a decorated career with Newcastle, Leicester, and Exeter, Geoff Parling headed to Australia in 2018 for a brief playing stint with 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."

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15 England Stars Make Our Lions Squad for Australia Tour

With the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour just around the corner, speculation is ramping up about who will get the nod for the three-Test series against Australia.

Andy Farrell will announce his squad live from the O2 Arena in London on May 8th, 2025, and we've taken a stab at selecting the best possible 36-man squad for the tour.

OUR 2025 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD

Here's a breakdown of who makes the cut, with 15 England stars included in our strongest lineup.

Props

Andrew Porter (Ireland)

Ellis Genge (England) – The ‘Baby Rhino’ brings his trademark aggression and scrummaging power.

Pierre Schoemann (Scotland)

Kyle Sinckler (England) – A veteran of the 2021 tour, Sinckler's experience will be vital.

Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

Will Stuart (England) – The powerful tighthead earns his spot after a consistent season.

Hookers

Dan Sheehan (Ireland) – The standout Irish hooker is almost a certainty.

Dewi Lake (Wales)

Jamie George (England) – Lions experience and leadership make him a vital inclusion.

Locks

Maro Itoje (England) – One of the first names on the team sheet.

Joe McCarthy (Ireland) – The young enforcer could be a game-changer.

Ollie Chessum (England) – A rising star, providing dynamism and lineout excellence.

Dafydd Jenkins (Wales)

Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)

George Martin (England) – Physicality and work rate give him the edge.

Back Row

Josh van der Flier (Ireland) – World-class breakdown presence.

Ben Curry (England) – Edges into contention with his relentless tackling and breakdown work.

Tom Curry (England) – A Lions veteran whose pedigree speaks for itself.

Caelan Doris (Ireland) – A guaranteed starter.

Ben Earl (England) – One of the most explosive players in the Premiership this season.

Jack Willis (England) – His form for Toulouse has been outstanding.

CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO

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