• Tigers head coach welcomes impact of refereeing changes

• Move to more kicking has ‘opened up the game’

Geoff Parling, the Leicester head coach, has defended the crackdown on escort defenders, saying the impact of refeering changes that promote more kicking has been “pretty positive”.

Parling’s comments come after Ross Byrne attacked recent refereeing changes around contestable kicks on Monday. The Gloucester fly-half argued a potential knock-on effect would be for international coaches to convert second-rows into wings for the next men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027.

• Tigers head coach welcomes impact of refereeing changes

• Move to more kicking has ‘opened up the game’

Geoff Parling, the Leicester head coach, has defended the crackdown on escort defenders, saying the impact of refeering changes that promote more kicking has been “pretty positive”.

Parling’s comments come after Ross Byrne attacked recent refereeing changes around contestable kicks on Monday. The Gloucester fly-half argued a potential knock-on effect would be for international coaches to convert second-rows into wings for the next men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027.

• Tigers head coach welcomes impact of refereeing changes

• Move to more kicking has ‘opened up the game’

Geoff Parling, the Leicester head coach, has defended the crackdown on escort defenders, saying the impact of refeering changes that promote more kicking has been “pretty positive”.

Parling’s comments come after Ross Byrne attacked recent refereeing changes around contestable kicks on Monday. The Gloucester fly-half argued a potential knock-on effect would be for international coaches to convert second-rows into wings for the next men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027.