England boss Eddie Jones says he understands Joe Marler’s “reasoning” after the Harlequins prop announced his immediate retirement from international rugby.
The 28-year-old forward, who has won 59 England caps, told Quins TV he had made the decision to spend more time with his family.
🗣 “When I got the call-up for the next squad, I thought the time was right to make the call and concentrate on my family and the Club moving forward.”
📽 @JoeMarler on his decision to retire from international rugby
📲 Full story https://t.co/3X8NnsnU8K pic.twitter.com/U7RdabAC1l
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) September 26, 2018
In a statement released by Quins, Jones said: “Joe is a great player and team member, so I am disappointed and we will miss him. But he has made his decision on personal grounds and we understand his reasoning.
“He’s a good guy – an honest, mature person who understands the demands of the game and the demands of family life. I have got to admire his honesty and the way he has gone about this.”