England legend Joe Marler has set his retirement date from rugby
Rugby NewsWednesday, 10 July 2024 at 14:17
England prop Joe Marler has announced he will be available for selection by coach Steve Borthwick this autumn, while also revealing his planned retirement from all forms of rugby.
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The 33-year-old loosehead prop, a key figure for England during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and 2024 Six Nations, has earned 95 caps since his debut in 2012.
In his most recent appearance, Marler was forced off early due to injury during England's narrow 16-15 defeat by New Zealand in Dunedin.
Consequently, Marler will be sidelined for the second Test against the All Blacks in Auckland with a foot injury.
By the time he made 42nd international appearance against France in March 2016 he had missed only four matches since his debut on the way to becoming a Grand Slam winner.
He withdrew from the subsequent summer tour of Australia and took a break from the game before leading out England for his 50th cap in their stunning victory over Scotland in March 2017.
Three months later, Joe was part of the British & Irish Lions squad for their tour of New Zealand and was a regular for the Lions in their midweek games.
He announced his international retirement in September 2018 to spend more time with his family, but reversed his decision to go to the 2019 Rugby World Cup and has played on ever since.
Speaking to The Times, he revealed today that the end is nigh: "I’m available for England but I’ll quit rugby in 2025,"
Ben Youngs recently quipped to Marler: "When are you letting everyone know that you're not doing it anymore?"
"I said 'I can't, as I've done it eight times and no one will believe me! It's the boy who cried wolf -- you do it, it'll be fine.' "
Joe Marler didn't speak to teammate for 18 months, they just didn't get on
England prop Joe Marler is never afraid of sharing an opinion or two - especially when it's about someone he doesn't particularly like.
#1. Sir Clive Woodward
Woodward tore apart Eddie Jones' side during a webinar, slamming Marler and fellow prop Dan Cole for their behaviour in a press conference prior to the loss against South Africa back in November. This wasn't the first time the 2003 World Cup-winning coach called out the prop.
After reading an article on the Rugby Pass website highlighting Woodward's comments, he tweeted him directly, saying: "Change the record Sir Clive - you should be grateful you can 'milk the cow' for another 3 years."
#2. Israel Folau
Over 1,000 days since Folau last played a professional match of rugby union, Marler's old Twitter sparring partner made his return to the sport over the weekend.
The loose-head prop takes any chance he can to call out the former Wallabies fullback, who could soon represent Tonga, for his homophobic views.
In a series of tweets sent directly to Folau, Marler attached pictures and GIFs of men kissing, in a display of defiant humour which was praised by fellow players and LGBTQ fans alike.
Marler later named Folau in his dream team in a tongue-in-cheek fashion.
On selecting Folau as his fullback, Marler commented, "On the night out, after we had played our match on the Saturday, I'd take him out in Brighton to The Blue Oyster... a couple of clubs."
#3. Marland Yarde
The winger dramatically left Harlequins in 2017 to join Premiership rivals Sale Sharks in an unusual mid-season move.
Marler said: “I hadn’t spoken to the bloke in 18 months,
“I’d lost the plot with him a good while ago. And let him be, let him do his own thing, because I’d given up on it
“He’d made the decision that he wanted to leave…you know, all the best to him. I wish him all the best. I don’t wish nastiness upon anyone.
“He’s one of those to just leave, as he won’t change in my mind. Me and him just don’t get on.”
#4. Marcos Ayerza
Both players were red carded by referee Wayne Barnes, who saw the incident unfold right in front of him, with Leicester prop Marcos Ayerza head butting Marler, who then retaliated with a few seemingly well placed punches in 2011.
#5. Gavin Henson
These two have history. Henson was ruled out for a number of weeks in 2016 after Marler clattered the Welsh Prince off the ball.
The England prop was returning to rugby after a troubled 2015-16 season, that prompted the loosehead to take a break from the game in the summer missing England's historic 3-0 whitewash of the Wallabies Down Under.
A story from Marler's book shows the ego of Henson in 2005 was off the scale. Being told to hurry up with his hair by his captain Gareth Thomas, the playmaker showed his skipper little respect.
Henson's reply to Thomas was: “Alf, your mother and father have come to watch you play today, but there are 72,000 out there who have come to watch me.”
QUIZ: Name every Six Nations player to be sent off since 2000
G'day rugby aficionados, Steve here, and we've got a ripper of a quiz lined up for you today.
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We're delving into the nitty-gritty of Six Nations history, focusing on those moments when the ref brandished a red card and sent players marching off the pitch.
It's a real head-scratcher, mate! So, grab your favourite brew, cozy up in your lucky armchair, and let's see if you've got the goods to name every Six Nations player who's been given the old heave-ho since the turn of the century.
This one's a corker, so let's get stuck in and separate the true-blue rugby brains from the weekend warriors.
Cheers, and let the quizathon begin!
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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