Parsons was – for the first time – named in the Hawke's Bay squad ahead of the 2012 ITM Cup season.[5] He made his NPC debut for the Magpies on 21 September 2012, via the reserves bench, in a tight 42–41 win over Bay of Plenty.[6] In his first three seasons, he played 15 games for the province.
In 2015, Parsons signed with Manawatu.[7] He debuted for the Turbos on 16 August 2015 against Counties Manukau.[8] He played 29 games for Manawatū in three seasons.
Parsons returned to Hawke's Bay and was named in the Magpies squad for the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season.[9] That season turned out to become his breakout season, in which he became a regular starter for Hawke's Bay. On 23 October 2018, Parsons won the Magpies Player of the Year award and Forward of the Year award at the team's end-of-season awards function.[10]
On 27 November 2019, Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus announced the signing of Parsons on a six-month contract for their 2020 Top League season.[11][3] He made his debut for the club on 18 January 2020 in a game against NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes. He played only four games for the side because the 2020 Top League season was cancelled after round 6 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12][13]
He returned to Hawke's Bay for the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup season, which turned out to be a successful one. The Magpies won the Ranfurly Shield,[14] successfully defended the Shield three times and won the Mitre 10 Cup Championship, thus securing a well-deserved promotion to the Premiership division.[15] The Magpies held on to the Shield during the entire 2021 Bunnings NPC season, winning all six Ranfurly Shield defences.[16] Parsons captained the team in the last few rounds of the season, after long-term captain Ash Dixon had left to play in Japan.
Over the years, Parsons turned out for the Hurricanes Development team on a regular basis,[17][18] but despite several strong seasons for Hawke's Bay, he wasn't offered a Super Rugby contract. During the 2021 Super Rugby season, he was called into the Highlanders squad as short-term injury cover, but didn't get any game time.[19]
While not being named in the initial Hurricanes squad for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, Parsons was eventually offered a contract and joined the franchise during preseason.[20] He made his Super Rugby debut for the Hurricanes – off the bench – on 25 March 2022 against Moana Pasifika.[21] His starting debut followed in the return game against Moana Pasifika on 12 April 2022.[22]
On 15 February 2024, Japan Rugby League One (Division 2) club Urayasu D-Rocks announced that Parsons would be joining the club for the remainder of the 2023–2024 season.[23] He played three games for the club, including two victorious promotion-relegation matches against Hanazono Kintetsu Liners that earned the club promotion to Division 1.[24] On 29 August 2024, Parsons was named in the Urayasu D-Rocks squad for the 2024-25 season.[2] He played 15 games for the club that season.