Ex-England coach Alex Codling on his travels again as Toulon come calling

Top 14 big spenders Toulon have agreed a deal with Munster’s much-travelled lineout specialist Alex Codling to replace Sergio Parisse, who is joining the staff of the Italian National Team.

Toulon moved for former Newcastle Falcons head coach Codling after failing to get either Montpellier head coach Joan Caudullo or England assistant Joe El-Abd out of the final year of their deals.

Codling, who won one England cap under Sir Clive Woodward against Argentina in Buenos Aires in June 2002, initially moved to Munster as a forwards coach consultant in November 2024, before being appointed as the team’s full-time forwards coach ahead of this season.

The 52-year-old has gained a wealth of experience in his extensive coaching career, working with clubs in Wales, England, Ireland and France, as well as serving as an assistant coach with England under Eddie Jones and a spell with Ireland Women.

At Oyonnax, he led the team to the 2022/23 ProD2 title, and he also had a brief playing spell in France with Montpellier, so he is well-versed in the rugby landscape across the channel.

French publication L’Equipe, backed up by the Irish Independent, have reported that he will swap Limerick for the Côte d’Azur next season to join Pierre Mignoni’s coaching staff.

Codling isn’t going to be the only change to Clayton McMillan’s staff next season, with it already announced that attack coach Mike Prendergast is heading to Gallagher PREM champions Bath next season as a permanent replacement for Lee Blackett.

Munster have moved to replace Prendergast with another New Zealander, Roger Randle, who is the Chiefs attack coach and will reunite with his former boss in Limerick, running the attack with Mossy Lawler.

Randle, who played in two uncapped games for the All Blacks, joined the Chiefs coaching staff seven years ago, but his contract runs out at the end of the season, opening the door for a switch to Munster.

Meanwhile, the Irish media are reporting that Codling’s replacement is likely to be another Kiwi, with former All Blacks prop Jamie Macintosh, who is working as set-piece coach at the Hurricanes, or Chiefs forwards coach Graham Dewes, the favourites.

Former Fijian international Dawes worked for Fiji and Northland before moving to the Chiefs, while Macintosh was forwards coach and scrum coach with Otago before linking up with the Hurricanes.