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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Robert Kitson

Parling’s TV spat with Doyle symbolises the tug of war for rugby’s modern soul

Geoff Parling gesticulates and points his arm
Geoff Parling used to be a stern-faced Prem coach but suddenly he is an unlikely global social media star. Photograph: Craig Mercer/Alamy

No prizes for guessing the most viewed rugby clip at the weekend. The number of views on X has long since passed three million and – spoiler alert – people were not studying the finer detail of Gloucester’s defensive effort at Villa Park on Saturday. Leicester’s Geoff Parling used to be just another stern-faced Prem coach; suddenly he is an unlikely global social media star.

For those who missed it – and here’s hoping you enjoyed your mini-break on Jupiter – here is a potted summary. The TNT Sports presenter Craig Doyle and a new colleague, Liam MacDevitt, were on the pitch before the game, with MacDevitt being urged to take a kick at goal as part of his on-screen Prem initiation. All seemed OK right until the moment an angry Parling loomed into shot.

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