Geoff was born and raised nearby in Stockton, going on to represent England right through the age group levels including Under-21s.
 
He has the ability to play both lock and blindside flanker, and having captained the Development team in the 2004/5 season, he then became a first team regular in 2005/6, starting the majority of games and winning the players' player of the year award for his consistently high level of performance.

Featuring heavily at blindside during the 2006/7 campaign, Parling even skippered the Falcons first team on a number of occasions, including the decisive European Challenge Cup win at Italian side Petrarca Padova.

School/university: Ian Ramsey, Durham School, Newcastle University

Nicknames: George Purling, Grinch, Garfield

Favourite TV show: Last Man Standing, Planet Earth

Favourite film: Cling film, Forrest Gump

Favourite music: Anything except grunge, especially with me singing

Favourite book: Sleepers, The Mermaids Singing, An Evil Cradling

Favourite food: Lamb shank

Most like to meet: My dad when he was young

Least like to meet: Ben Woods or Jason Oakes

Best moment in rugby: Getting players’ player of the year in 2006

Best moment outside of rugby: Winning young poet of the year in 2003 and my first recording contract

Favourite place to visit: Eni Gesinde’s landing

Team-mate least like to share a room with and why: Ben Woods cos he keeps looking at me funny, and Jason Oakes cos he just talks about vegetables all night

I love: My family and friends

I hate: Ben Woods and Jason Oakes