Leicester boss Geoff Parling apologises for furious push on TV's Craig Doyle 

The Leicester head coach wasn't happy with a pre-match stunt at Villa Park.

Geoff Parling, Head Coach of Leicester Tigers looks on prior to the Gallagher PREM match between Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers at Villa Park on March 28, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Leicester boss Geoff Parling has apologised after he was involved in a heated exchange with TV presenter Craig Doyle ahead of their Gallagher Prem match with Gloucester at Villa Park on Saturday.

Footage showed TNT Sports’ Doyle inviting Liam MacDevitt to attempt a conversion which prompted an angry response from Parling after MacDevitt’s kick from the touchline flew in the direction of where the Leicester players were warming up.

He walked towards Doyle before pushing him and replied “It’s f****** not on,” after the presenter asked: “Would you sign him Geoff?”.

In a statement released on the Leicester website, Parling said: “I would like to apologise for the incident pre-game yesterday – it is important we stay a family focused game and it wasn’t appropriate for viewers to see that.

“We have a great product in the Gallagher Prem and I offer my thanks to Craig Doyle and everyone at TNT for continuing to innovate and think differently.

"After talking last night we’ll make sure we are fully aligned behind new ideas, including when best to use them; and keep pushing our game to new audiences.”

On Saturday, Parling says he was protecting his players when he was involved in the heated exchange.

Footage showed MacDevitt's conversion, dubbed an initiation as a new member of the presenting team.

MacDevitt sent his kick from out on the touchline towards the posts in the direction of where Leicester players were warming up, prompting a furious response from Parling.

At the time, Doyle apologised for the language, saying: “Geoff not happy about that.” 

Speaking after the game to BBC Radio Leicester, Parling said: “The producer from TNT has just come and apologised to me. They had something set up that wasn’t passed with anybody, without our knowledge.

“I’m very wary I need to protect my players and certainly balls flying towards our players that could go anywhere where there’s an injury risk, then I’m obviously not going to be happy.”