After years of embracing baldness with the same commitment he shows in a scrum, Joe Marler—England international, Harlequins stalwart, and proud mohawk enthusiast—has finally gone under the knife.
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Or rather, the precision tools of Dr Raja, lead hair transplant surgeon at MANUAL, the UK’s biggest name in hair restoration.
And in typical Marler fashion, he’s not keeping it quiet. On the latest episode of Things People Do, Joe lifts the lid on the whole experience—from what the procedure actually felt like, to whether he considered just getting the mohawk zone topped up and leaving the rest.
“I didn’t cry… much,” Marler jokes. “I just wanted options, you know? Maybe a mullet next time. But seriously, I did it because I wanted to—and I’m chuffed.”
In the episode, Marler opens up about:
- What actually happens during a hair transplant.
- Whether the procedure hurt (spoiler: needles are involved).
- Why he trusted MANUAL with his famously unpredictable head.
The episode also features an honest debrief with Dr Raja, who gives a behind-the-scenes look at Joe’s surgery day and clears up whether everything Joe says is technically true.
Three Changes Andy Farrell Must Make for Lions’ Second Test vs Australia
Here’s a breakdown of the three underperforming Lions players, their potential replacements, and why each should be dropped for the next Test based on current form and match impact.
#1. Hugo Keenan – Fullback
Performance Summary:
- Rating Consensus: 5/10 across all outlets
- Errors: Two turnovers, poor under the high ball, responsible for Max Jorgensen’s try
- Positives: Grew into the game slightly, some flashes of attacking promise
Critique:
Keenan struggled under pressure, especially in the aerial game — a non-negotiable at Test level. His missed contest under the high ball directly led to Australia’s first try, and he looked shaky throughout when tested defensively.
Replacement: Blair Kinghorn
If fit, Kinghorn offers more size, versatility, and attacking spark. His high ball security and counter-attacking ability could offer greater threat and reliability.
Final Verdict:
Keenan should be dropped for lack of command at the back and vulnerability under pressure, which cost the Lions territory and points. Kinghorn’s more robust and dynamic style is a better fit against high-kicking sides like Australia.
