Wales Rugby Legend Calls Out Joe Marler For Boxing Match After Infamous Scandal

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by Rugby Rucker

Wednesday, 09 April 2025 at 08:50

byRugby Rucker

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– and his picks are bound to raise a few eyebrows.

It’s the grudge match nobody saw coming — but it could be the charity showdown of the year.

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Former England loosehead Joe Marler has lifted the lid on a surprise message from ex-Wales prop Samson Lee, who challenged him to a charity boxing bout… years after the infamous “gypsy boy” incident that rocked the 2016 Six Nations.

Now that both men have officially called time on their rugby careers, it seems a second showdown could be on the cards — only this time, it won’t be at Twickenham. Gloves on, shirts off, let’s settle this in the ring.

Joe Marler – England’s most colourful cult hero

A larger-than-life figure on and off the field, Joe Marler earned 83 caps for England between 2012 and 2023, playing a crucial role in the nation's 2016 Grand Slam and 2019 Rugby World Cup final run.

Known for his wild hairstyles, straight-talking interviews, and unapologetic humour, the Harlequins legend officially retired from rugby in November 2024. But even in retirement, Marler’s never far from the headlines.

Samson Lee – Wales’ scrummaging specialist

Samson Lee, capped 45 times for Wales between 2013 and 2020, was a rock-solid scrummager for both club and country. The tighthead prop spent the bulk of his career with the Scarlets and was a key part of their 2017 PRO12-winning side. Born into a Traveller family in Llanelli, Lee has been a respected voice for inclusivity in rugby and quietly hung up his boots at the end of 2023 due to a long-standing Achilles injury.

From Gypsy-gate to gloves off

The original flashpoint came during the 2016 Six Nations, when Marler, mic’d up during a heated England-Wales clash at Twickenham, was heard calling Lee a “gypsy boy.” The fallout was immediate — a two-match suspension and a £20,000 fine donated to an equality charity. Marler later admitted the incident played a role in his first retirement from international rugby in 2018, aged just 28.

Now, nearly a decade on, it appears the two front-rowers might finally bury the hatchet — with fists, not boots.

Another day, another Marler headline – the Alun Wyn Jones moment

The Lee incident wasn’t the only time Marler found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. During the 2020 Six Nations, in a match against Wales, Marler shocked the rugby world again — this time grabbing Alun Wyn Jones’s genitals during a melee. The bizarre incident went viral and earned Marler a 10-week ban, despite his attempts to brush it off with humour.

It only cemented his status as one of rugby’s most controversial characters — and made his clashes with Welsh players the stuff of rugby folklore.

“I don’t see how I win…”

“I had my incident with Gypsy-gate and Samson Lee,” Marler recalled on a recent podcast. “Someone asked me to do a retirement video for him at the Scarlets, so I did.

“Then he got in touch just before the Autumn Series started and said, ‘Alright butt, I hope you’re well. Are you interested in a charity boxing match?’ For his testimonial.”

Marler admitted he stalled on responding: “I was like, ‘I’m not sure. Even if I win, I’m not winning. I sort of cowardly didn’t reply for a while.’ Then I got a nudge message from him: ‘What do you think then butt, I think we can make f***ing mint.’

“I was like, ‘Err… I know it looks like I’ve retired already, but I am still playing, so I’ll probably put it on the backburner for now.’

“I’m just waiting for that message to come again now that I’ve fully retired. To be like, ‘Right, shall we tango?’”

Dan Biggar names bold Lions XV – with big England omissions

Wales legend Dan Biggar has officially called time on his playing career, but not before dropping a blockbuster British & Irish Lions XV on The Rugby Pod

The 112-cap fly-half, who steered Wales through some of their finest Six Nations and World Cup moments, appeared on Jim Hamilton’s podcast this week and revealed his Lions dream team. Spoiler alert: there's no room for the likes of Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, or even himself.

Here’s how Biggar’s team shaped up…

Front-row firepower: Porter, Sheehan & Furlong

1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong

It’s an all-Irish affair in the front row, with Biggar backing Leinster's dominant trio to boss the scrum. Furlong remains the Rolls-Royce of tightheads, while Sheehan and Porter provide dynamism in the loose.

Big boys in the boiler room: Itoje & Beirne

4. Maro Itoje
5. Tadhg Beirne

England’s Maro Itoje gets the nod despite some inconsistent recent form, with Biggar clearly still valuing his disruptive brilliance. He’s paired with the ever-reliable Beirne – a turnover machine and Lions Test starter in 2021.

Breakdown beasts: Curry, Van Der Flier & Doris (c)

6. Tom Curry
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)

This back row is pure chaos – in the best possible way. England’s Tom Curry returns to the fray, Ireland’s Van der Flier adds World Player of the Year pedigree, and Doris, who’s fast becoming a modern-day great, takes the armband. A fearless choice.

Livewire half-backs: Gibson-Park & Russell

9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell

Gone are the days of conservative Lions 9-10 combos. Biggar’s gone full jazz here. Gibson-Park brings the zip, and Russell… well, Russell brings the flair. The Scotland maestro’s creativity earns him the No.10 jersey over Biggar himself – no ego here.

Fire on the flanks: Lowe & Kinghorn

11. James Lowe
14. Blair Kinghorn

Two versatile Scots fill the wing slots, with Kinghorn’s blend of size and speed complementing Lowe’s relentless work rate and booming left boot. Biggar clearly values adaptability out wide – and a bit of flair never hurts.

Caledonian connection in midfield: Tuipulotu & Jones

12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Huw Jones

The Glasgow Warriors pairing have formed one of the deadliest centre combos in rugby, and Biggar’s kept them together. It’s a bold call, but one based on form and synergy rather than reputation alone.

Rock-solid fullback: Hugo Keenan

15. Hugo Keenan

No surprise here – Keenan has been Ireland’s Mr Consistent, and Biggar trusts him to be the safety net at the back. His positioning, aerial ability and counter-attacks make him a nailed-on pick.

The bench: a mix of muscle and mischief

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Zander Fagerson, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith

It’s a stacked bench with serious impact. Genge and Fagerson bring brute force, while Earl and Morgan cover the back row with pace and punch. Marcus Smith adds some stardust, and Mitchell offers serious tempo at

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