Geoff Parling explains reasons behind resting star trio for UBB trip

Leicester head coach Geoff Parling has confirmed that three of his best forwards will miss this weekend’s daunting trip to Champions Cup holders, Union Bordeaux-Begles.

The Tigers pack will be shorn of tight-head Joe Heyes and club captain Ollie Chessum, two of England’s best performers in the Six Nations, as well as Wales’ in-form loose-head Nicky Smith.

The trio are due to take their mandatory rest week, having played both games since the Six Nations ended – the PREM wins over Bristol and Gloucester, making Sunday’s task even tougher.

UBB qualified for the Champions Cup Round of 16 as top seeds, whereas Tigers scraped through as the lowest-ranked team. Leicester have won at the Stade Chaban-Delmas before, 16-13 in December 2021, but go back there as huge 14/1 underdogs.

“I can confirm that, because people can work that one out,” said Parling, about the decision to rest three of his leading performers.

“It’s a real balancing act, and I don’t think there’s any cast iron, right or wrong (decision),” he continued.

“We had the advantage against Bristol, that there was an eight-day turnaround at the end of the Six Nations games, so I wanted to use that. It was third versus fourth at the time as well.

“And then, Gloucester, I almost felt like if I just kept rolling them, rolling them for those two weeks, and then give them a break, a deserved break, an emotional break, not just a physical break.

“But there is no right or wrong. You feel like you are constantly poking and prodding and trying to figure out the best thing to do.

“We know the rules. It’s the same for every club, and I suppose that’s what happens when you have top-quality players.

“You’d rather have that problem than not have that problem in a way.”

Meanwhile, Parling revealed that England lock George Martin wasn’t ready to make his playing comeback just yet. “He’s getting closer.”