Joe Marler, one of rugby’s most colourful characters, has opened up about the toughest opponents he faced during his career following his retirement.
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Renowned for his scrummaging prowess and sharp wit, Marler’s international career spanned 95 caps over 12 years, during which he won three Six Nations Championships with England.
At club level, he remained loyal to a single side, making 204 appearances for Harlequins, where he secured two Premiership titles and the European Challenge Cup.
Now, as he prepares to hang up his boots after Harlequins’ Premiership clash against Bristol Bears at The Stoop, Marler has reflected on the players who tested him the most.
#1. CARL HAYMAN
Major teams: Barbarians, Highlanders, Newcastle Falcons, Toulon, New Zealand, New Zealand Maori
Position: Prop
Caps: 45
MARLER SAID: “I played against him when he was at Newcastle, and he basically would knock s**t outta ya for 80 minutes. It was like playing against a prop with the fitness levels of a flanker. He was scary.”
BIO: One of the most dominant tighthead props of his era, Carl Hayman combined brutal scrummaging power with surprising mobility around the pitch. After a stellar career with the Highlanders and Newcastle Falcons, he became a cornerstone of Toulon’s European dominance, winning three Champions Cups.
DID YOU KNOW? Hayman was once the highest-paid rugby player in the world during his time at Toulon.
#2. RORY BEST
Major teams: Barbarians, British and Irish Lions, Ireland A, Munster, Ulster, Ireland
Position: Hooker
Caps: 124
MARLER SAID: “Best is hard as nails and a great thrower at the line, plus great in the loose. He was pretty underrated in my opinion.”
BIO: A true leader on and off the field, Rory Best captained Ireland to some of their greatest modern-day achievements, including a Grand Slam in 2018 and their first-ever win over New Zealand in 2016. Known for his durability and work ethic, he became the cornerstone of Ireland’s pack for over a decade.
DID YOU KNOW? Best is Ireland’s most-capped forward and only the second hooker to reach 100 caps for the nation.
