PARLING OUT OF THE SEASON

Leicester Tigers lock Geoff Parling is out for the season after damaging his knee ligaments. Parling returned to action after four months out with a neck injury in Friday’s win over Harlequins – his first appearance of the season.

But, just two minutes after coming on as a replacement, Parling caught his studs in the turf and twisted his knee.

“It’s a crying shame for us and for him,” Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill told BBC Radio Leicester.

“It’s horrendous for him first and foremost – and really bad news for us because we thought we were getting him back and he would really bolster our second row and forward options. It is a massive loss.