Irish presenter Craig Doyle was in hot water on TNT Sports on Saturday afternoon, as Leicester Tigers head coach Geoff Parling lost his cool with Doyle and the TNT team at Villa Park.
Leicester travelled to the unfamiliar confines of Aston Villa’s home ground, where Gloucester had chosen to host their Premiership clash with the Tigers.
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Leicester would give their playoff hopes a major boost with a comfortable win on the road, with the final score 36-17.
However, the pre-match antics of their head coach, Geoff Parling, would capture the attention of rugby fans on social media, as he appeared to tell Craig Doyle and the TNT Sports team where to go.
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TNT in hot water in Leicester
In a clip circulated on Twitter, Craig Doyle and TNT Sports debutant Liam MacDevitt could be seen capturing a humorous segment on the pitch as the Leicester Tigers team warmed up in the background.
Rugby fans will be accustomed to this kind of content, with similar skits carried out by Brian O’Driscoll and Jonny Wilkinson on ITV during the Six Nations.
However, those segments were filmed well before the teams were on the field of play.
This segment, by contrast, was filmed in the Leicester end as they prepared for kick-off.
MacDevitt was tasked with kicking at goal, with his shot landing near several Leicester players.
Geoff Parling was not best pleased, with the Leicester coach quickly making his way towards Doyle and MacDevitt.
Initially, Craig Doyle appeared to think Parling would be amicable, joking about whether he would consider signing MacDevitt for the Tigers.
Parling, though, was anything but, and appeared to tell the pair, “It’s fucking not on,” as he shoved Doyle and pointed towards the sidelines.
Craig Doyle being told to fuck off by Geoff Parling wasn’t on my bingo list today. 🤣 #GLOvLEI #SlaterCup #GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/uldmu3PF62
— Howie Gosling (@Howgozza) March 28, 2026
Doyle and MacDevitt quickly and sheepishly made their way off the pitch, with host Doyle apologising to the Leicester coach.
It was notable that, when Doyle approached MacDevitt at the beginning of the segment, MacDevitt said, “I thought we just got booted off,” suggesting that the pair may not have even had permission to be on the field at that point.
Craig Doyle was forced to apologise for the language used by Parling, after the Leicester coach leant into the mic to chastise Doyle and MacDevitt.
Geoff not happy about that…okay, apologies for the language, Geoff understandably upset about that. Let’s just step off the pitch here for a second.
It was a poor moment from both parties, but it appears nonsensical from the TNT team to think that there would be no blowback from them kicking a ball directly towards the Leicester players as they warmed up.
Former England international and prominent rugby pundit Andy Goode has shown his support for Doyle and TNT in response, stressing their financial importance to the sport.
Taking to X, Goode took issue with Parling’s treatment of the presenter despite the dispruption.
‘Geoff Parling had a stinker today pushing Craig Doyle. No need for acting like that when the TV broadcasters fund the game.”
Geoff Parling had a stinker today pushing Craig Doyle, no need for acting like that when the TV broadcasters fund the game
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) March 28, 2026
Regardless, Leicester will be pleased just to have come away with the win.
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