Leicester raid overseas URC clubs to fill coaching vacancies

Leicester Tigers have named Craig Childs (defence) and Rod Seib (attack) as replacements for outgoing coaching duo, Brett Deacon and Pete Hewat, ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Childs joins the Tigers from the DHL Stormers in South Africa, and Tigers head coach Geoff Parling is delighted to have him on board.

“After speaking to multiple players and coaches about Craig, and meeting him when we played in Cape Town, I’m sure he’ll have a positive impact at Tigers,” he said.

“He comes from a very good DHL Stormers set-up, is hungry to come across and work in the PREM and knows that everyone at Leicester must show a real appetite to defend and get the ball back. Welcome to him, Genevieve and their daughter Olivia.”

The table-topping Stormers have the best defence in the URC, conceding the fewest points and tries in the league.

On coming to Leicester Tigers, Childs said: “It feels incredible – the Tigers have such a significant history in the Premiership and in Europe, so to join them is exciting.

“There is a real energy around what Geoff, the staff and the players have created, and I look forward to adding to that next season.”

Seib, the former Australia XV and Brumbies coach, will also arrive in the summer from Connacht.

“I recognise the responsibility of taking on this role with Tigers,” he said.

“They’re a fiercely competitive club and they’re highly regarded within world rugby. I’m hugely looking forward to be able to positively impact the team.

“I’ve known Geoff for a number of years. We coached against each other in Super Rugby and then at one point we were coaching together for an Australian ‘A’ team.”

“The role that Geoff discussed with me was hugely appealing and the opportunity to work with him again I thought would be a positive move for me.”

Parling added: “We’re excited to welcome Rod to Tigers; he’s an excellent coach who will add real value to what we do. I worked with him at Australia ‘A’ where I saw someone who brought detail, innovation and was excellent at improving the individual – all traits that are essential to what we are building at Tigers.

“We look forward to having him and his wife Kylie with us and seeing how he can advance our attack in the future.

“We are an environment that drives players to get better every day, and I have no doubt that Rod and Craig will add to this.”