Leicester Tigers have appointed Wales defence coach Mike Forshaw as Geoff Parling’s assistant coach alongside the returning Anthony Allen.
Forshaw, 55, leaves his role in international rugby after two-and-a-half years to move back to the Premiership where he spent a decade as a coach at Sale Sharks.
The former Great Britain rugby league international, who enjoyed a decorated career with Wigan Warriors, Wakefield Trinity, Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls and Warrington Wolves, has worked in rugby union for 15 years.
“I think the DNA of the club, around working hard for one another and being physical, really suits me,” Forshaw told Leicester’s website.
“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.”
As well as adding Forshaw to his coaching team, Parling has turned to former team-mate Allen as the rookie boss prepares to take the helm of the Tigers.
Former centre Allen, 38, won two Premiership titles with Leicester and earned two England caps before he was forced to retire in 2015 because of a knee injury.
He took up a role with the club’s academy, then went on to work as a Tigers under-18 head coach before stepping up to the senior coaching team.
Allen left for a job in the Championship with Coventry in 2019.
“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,” Allen said.
Allen and Forshaw are the first two coaching additions made by Parling, who will continue to work with Brett Deacon, Neil Fowkes, and Peter Hewat, who all worked under former head coach Michael Cheika.