BREAKING: Joe Marler injury update after failing fitness test

He had been due to start against Gloucester, but he was forced to drop out of the team on the day of the game after failing a late fitness test.

Previewing this weekend’s replay of the 2020/21 Premiership final, Skills and Kicking Coach Charlie Mulchrone said: “It’s a game I’m sure everyone is looking forward to, even as a neutral, given it’s a replay of the final. Hopefully, it will be as exciting as it was last year, hopefully, a bit more comfortable for us, we’ll see.

“Both teams, going off the stats, like to keep the ball in play and like to play attacking rugby. It’s probably been limited recently because of the weather. No matter how attacking you want to be if it’s blowing a gale or it’s howling down your tactics have to change slightly.

"I think it’s meant to be quite gusty this weekend, but we’re two attacking teams and that’s how we want to play. Hopefully, we get that, weather permitting.”

Harlequins Starting XV
1. Joe Marler
2. Jack Walker
3. Will Collier
4. Matt Symons
5. Hugh Tizard
6. Tom Lawday
7. Jack Kenningham
8. Alex Dombrandt - Captain
9. Danny Care
10. Marcus Smith
11. Cadan Murley
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Luke Northmore
14. Joe Marchant
15. Tyrone Green

Impact Players
16. Jack Musk
17. Santiago Garcia Botta
18. Simon Kerrod
19. Dino Lamb
20. James Chisholm
21. Scott Steele
22. Huw Jones
23. Louis Lynagh

Unavailable due to injury:
Aaron Morris, Tommy Allan, Will Evans

You can read Marler's full brilliant manifesto by clicking here.

Marler said: The first thing I would do is ban the f***ing caterpillar ruck,’ he says. ‘It kills me. The whole thing is an a***. I would go as far as saying I’d ban box kicks but I might start to sound like Clive Woodward.

‘I want to see referees sanction the scrum-half for not using it when they shout “Use it”. I also want to get rid of the rule where the defence get the ball back if they hold you up and create a maul in the tackle.'

Marler said: ‘Rugby is definitely missing some sort of razzmatazz,’ says Marler. ‘We need a Drive to Survive type of show like Formula One. I thought that’s what CVC were going to do?

‘Can you imagine a raw, behind-the-scenes documentary of Eddie Jones? He’s an anarchist, isn’t he? He does what he wants.

Marler said: ‘The disciplinary system is completely baffling and completely bonkers and I think it could be a tad more consistent,’ says Marler.

‘Tomas Lavanini is the most carded player in the history of rugby and his ban was reduced recently because he conducted himself well at the hearing. Does that mean you just have to scrub up nicely and wear a nice suit?

Marler said: ‘I’d like to see Exeter change their branding from Chiefs to Chefs,’ he says. ‘The Exeter Chefs. It’s a small but sizeable change. I think it would be more culturally appropriate than continually p***ing off native Americans. The branding opportunities are endless — a skull with a knife and fork under it rather than a chief. They could have their own cooking range, too.’

Marler said: "‘The suicide rate in men, throughout society, shows that more has to be done. It’s not just a rugby problem. I’m not surprised there are no openly gay players in rugby given the environment over the years. They are 100 per cent out there. People’s sexuality isn’t a “story” but it would be a huge moment to hear someone say, “This is me, this is who I am, this is what I stand for”.'