Joe Marler has announced his retirement from international rugby – insisting it is ‘the real one this time’ – at the age of 34, after earning 95 Test caps for his country.
The veteran Harlequins prop previously stepped down from England duty in 2018, only to have a change of heart.
Now, he has decided it is the right time to end his long period of national service, which began way back in June, 2012, against South Africa in Durban.
On Sunday night, he was replaced in the squad by Sale’s uncapped front-row sensation, Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
Days after his social-media posts about the Haka caused outrage and debate, Marler delivered an altogether different message, about his desire to prioritise his family; wife Daisy and children Jasper, Maggie, Felix and Pixie. ‘It’s time for me to move on,’ he said.
England legend Joe Marler has announced his retirement from international rugby aged 34
Marler, pictured at the World Cup last year, played in 95 Test matches in his England career
He watched Saturday’s 24-22 defeat by New Zealand from the home bench at Twickenham
‘I feel very sad but very proud. Playing for England always felt like I was living in a dream bubble. I kept waiting for it to pop and me to suddenly go back to being a gobby, overweight 16-year-old again. But you know when it is time.
‘I can’t do what I used to do as well as I once could. I can’t keep talking about my family being my priority unless they actually are. I want to keep untarnished all these memories of my career, both good and bad. I don’t want to leave my house with my kids crying. I am ready to make the change.
‘I’m incredibly grateful I got to play 95 times for my country. I have to pinch myself. Did I really do that? I’m grateful to all those people who showed patience as I kept messing up. I’m grateful to the fans who made each match special. I’m grateful to the team-mates who pushed alongside or behind me, and the ones who could do all the things with a ball that I can’t.’
Amid a torrent of tributes for a supreme scrummager, England head coach Steve Borthwick said: ‘Joe has been an outstanding servant to English rugby; a tough, uncompromising competitor on the field and a genuine, one-of-a-kind personality off it. We’ll miss his humour, sense of fun and the energy he brought to the squad.’
