In a bold move that's set to shake up the English Premiership landscape, the Leicester Tigers have snagged a key figure from the Stormers' coaching staff. Craig Childs is set to join the Tigers as their new defence coach for the 2026-27 season, hoping to fortify their defensive line under the strategic eye of head coach Geoff Parling.
Childs, leaving behind his recent tenure in Cape Town, has a well-rounded coaching pedigree including stints at Wynberg Boys’ High and the University of Cape Town. This new role at Leicester represents a significant leap in his coaching career. "It feels incredible – the Tigers have such a significant history in the Premiership and in Europe, so to join them is exciting," Childs remarked. He also added,
"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."
However, his commitment remains with the Stormers until the summer, ensuring his current team remains his focus in the immediate future.
Leicester’s ambition doesn’t stop with Childs; they’ve also roped in Rod Seib to spearhead the club’s attack. This duo is expected to inject fresh tactics and vigor into the Tigers’ gameplay.
Geoff Parling expressed his enthusiasm for bringing Childs onboard, noting the strong impression he made during their encounter in Cape Town.
"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 the Tigers,"
Parling said. He highlighted Childs’ robust background with the Stormers and his eagerness to transition to the Premiership, emphasizing the need for a staunch defence and aggressive ball recovery.
The Tigers' management and fans alike are hopeful that these strategic coaching additions will propel the team to new heights in the upcoming season. With Childs and Seib at the helm of defence and attack, respectively, Leicester Tigers are gearing up for what could be a transformative season.
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In a bold move that's set to shake up the English Premiership landscape, the Leicester Tigers have snagged a key figure from the Stormers' coaching staff. Craig Childs is set to join the Tigers as their new defence coach for the 2026-27 season, hoping to fortify their defensive line under the strategic eye of head coach Geoff Parling.
Childs, leaving behind his recent tenure in Cape Town, has a well-rounded coaching pedigree including stints at Wynberg Boys’ High and the University of Cape Town. This new role at Leicester represents a significant leap in his coaching career. "It feels incredible – the Tigers have such a significant history in the Premiership and in Europe, so to join them is exciting," Childs remarked. He also added,
"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."
However, his commitment remains with the Stormers until the summer, ensuring his current team remains his focus in the immediate future.Leicester’s ambition doesn’t stop with Childs; they’ve also roped in Rod Seib to spearhead the club’s attack. This duo is expected to inject fresh tactics and vigor into the Tigers’ gameplay.
Geoff Parling expressed his enthusiasm for bringing Childs onboard, noting the strong impression he made during their encounter in Cape Town.
"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 the Tigers,"
Parling said. He highlighted Childs’ robust background with the Stormers and his eagerness to transition to the Premiership, emphasizing the need for a staunch defence and aggressive ball recovery.The Tigers' management and fans alike are hopeful that these strategic coaching additions will propel the team to new heights in the upcoming season. With Childs and Seib at the helm of defence and attack, respectively, Leicester Tigers are gearing up for what could be a transformative season.