Leicester bring in 2 new coaches, as former favourite returns

Leicester Tigers have added former player and coach, Anthony Allen, and Mike Forshaw to their coaching team.

The pair will join Geoff Parling’s staff as assistant coaches for his first season in charge at the club. While details around either role have yet to be announceded, Forshaw will undoubtedly look after the defence, having been a specialist in that area ever since crossing codes.

Leicester needed a new defence coach due to David Kidwell’s departure at the end of last season.

Brett Deacon, Neil Fowkes, and Peter Hewat will continue in their roles as part of the men’s coaching team under Parling, while Alex Davies will take on a revised role, working club-wide, as kicking coach.

Allen, 38, returns to the club where he made more than 120 appearances and contributed to two Premiership title-winning campaigns.

After retiring, due to injury, at just 28 years of age, Allen moved straight into coaching with the Tigers Academy. After two seasons as an assistant coach, he became head coach of the U18 side and led a group including the likes of Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet, and George Martin to back-to-back titles.

He worked as part of the senior team coaching group in the 2018/19 season before taking up a role with Coventry. Allen spent two years with the Championship club while also working as a coach at Loughborough University, and then moved to Cambridge, where he served as interim head coach for the latter part of the season. Another ex-Tiger, Craig Newby, has been appointed head coach of the Blood and Sand.

Allen has also worked as a rugby consultant with Quantum Sport and Oundle School.

On joining Parling’s coaching team, Allen said: “It is going to be great to be back involved at Leicester Tigers and I am looking forward to seeing what I can do to help the club and how I can influence, on both sides of the ball, what we do as a team.”

“It has been good for me to have been away, experience new environments and challenges at different organisations and be able to come back with those valuable lessons to add to the coaching room.

“What is also exciting is being able to work with guys I coached in their younger years, who are now senior players and in leadership roles in the squad, and getting the chance to contribute again to their journeys and development as players and people.”

Head Coach Parling added: “Tone was the first person I thought of when I was looking at the coaching team.”

“He has a smart eye for the game, can build rapport with players, and most importantly, has great character and is someone I trust.”

Meanwhile, Forshaw, 55, joins last year’s beaten Premiership finalists afterthree seasons as defence coach of Wales.

Well-known to the Premiership, he spent a decade at Sale Sharks and, before that, was a member of the Connacht Rugby coaching team for three years.

Before working in rugby union, Forshaw held performance roles with the Rugby Football League, Warrington Wolves, and Wigan Warriors.

A decorated rugby league player, he represented the Warriors, Wakefield Trinity, Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls, and Wolves in a career that included more than 350 senior appearances. Forshaw also represented Great Britain and England.

He had a brief stint in rugby union, for Saracens in 1995, before returning to rugby league.

On joining Parling’s coaching team, Forshaw said: “After moving on from Wales, I wanted to find the right fit for me and that is definitely Leicester Tigers. I wouldn’t class myself as a journeyman coach; I like to make an impact wherever I go and help build something over a period of time.”

“I think the DNA of the club, around working hard for one another and being physical, really suits me.

“It is an exciting time for the club, with Geoff taking over, and it is great to be able to be a part of that.”

Head Coach Parling added: “I’ve never worked with Forsh, but everyone I spoke to had positive things to say about him as a coach and him as a person.”

“Leicester teams are built on great defences, so I’m delighted to get someone of Forsh’s standing at Tigers.”

2025/26 Leicester Tigers men’s coaching team: 

Head Coach: Geoff Parling
Assistant Coaches: Anthony Allen, Brett Deacon, Mike Forshaw, Neil Fowkes, Peter Hewat
Head of Athletic Performance: Matt Parr
Head of Performance Analysis: Matt Egan