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Joe Marler to retire at the end of the season

Joe Marler of England reacts during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between England and South Africa at Stade de France on October 21, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

England prop Joe Marler is planning to retire at the end of the current Gallagher Premiership season – RugbyPass understands.

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England won the Rugby World Cup bronze medal last night at the Stade de France, beating Argentina for the second time this tournament with a 26-23 in a rain-soaked Paris last night, although the Harlequins front row didn’t feature.

One of rugby union’s most colourful characters, the prop has a successful podcast and has become a regular on Talksport and for other UK media outlets.

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The 33-year-old loosehead has yo-yo’ed in and out of international retirement in recent years but has indicated within camp that he is set to call time on his professional career as a whole at the end of the current season.

In September 2018, Joe Marler announced his international retirement to prioritize spending more time with his family but came out of international retirement to rejoin the England squad in preparation for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

He retired from Test rugby following the Japan World Cup reversed this decision once again and was included in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

His international journey began with three senior England caps earned during the 2012 summer tour against South Africa, having previously represented England at the U18 and U20 levels. By the time of his 42nd international appearance against France in March 2016, he had remarkably missed only four matches since his debut and contributed to England’s Grand Slam victory.

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Following this, he took a break from the game, withdrawing from the subsequent summer tour of Australia. However, he returned to lead England for his 50th cap, marking a memorable victory over Scotland in March 2017. Just three months later, Marler was a key member of the British & Irish Lions squad during their tour of New Zealand, playing regularly in midweek games.

 

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Comments

7 Comments
K
Kreggy 637 days ago

Sincerely. Fck each, and every, solitary writer for RugbyPass. Enjoy another four years of explaining how we aren’t the world champions. Again. You sour, horrible, miserable; unjustifiably sanctimonious tw*ts.

S
Sam 637 days ago

Thank goodness. Now everybody’s genitals are safe.

F
FM 637 days ago

Needed to give more than the ‘court-jester service’ he offered. Always felt he had s a lot more grunt to give, but just couldn’t be bothered. Sorry, Joe, but that’s how it seemed to me. Best with all after rugby!

M
MB 637 days ago

Can totally be annoying and I love him!! I will miss him a ton when he retires.

a
ant 637 days ago

He would never make a AB of Boks team. An average player with an above average ability to be arrogant without the competence. Not sure if anyone outside England will see his value.

f
fl 637 days ago

Most annoying man in rugby, but a great player. I was hoping England would retain him beyond the world cup.

H
Hove Vet 637 days ago

Love him or hate him, you can’t ignore him! A great servant for Quins and England. They broke the mould whilst he was still in it

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J
JW 42 minutes ago
Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

I’m not sure where that’s going but does it raise a valid point? Yes would be the answer you’re angling for?


It was (on air here) last year, but not this year. I haven’t seen why, my guess was that it’s because no English version comes out from the “closed off billionaires league” and they couldn’t get an english one. I think they have to get it from the UK broadcasters and maybe that market changed this year?


The quality of it wasn’t my point, purely correlation of those performances to ones at home. He is the only one over there, there was no marker for ABs to valuate from. He wasn’t a solid choice, in that you knew what you were getting, he was still more of a sensation in the All Blacks, and he was playing a different position.


Those are just direct points to counter JBs thoughts. I’m not saying they were used in any way (I think theyd have to be part of why NZR have the current eligibility rules though), this situation was simply a matter of starting at the back of the class if you’re not here. Only vets can earn sabbaticals (which is essentially what people are asking for in this case). There’s no argument this isn’t the right call.


As with the topic in the above paragraph, we could go on and on about it, but I will say I did see after the fact the final was broadcast FTA (no that I’d watch live, still have yet to watch the replay) straight off mondos website (im guessing it was a laggy pos tho), which is/was good. I also wanted to watch Brad Weber and Lester last year (start of the season) so went on line for a few (and tried to catch Max Hicks), that Brad was fabulous, Lester less so. Lester was also less that good in this international window. So I did see enough to know they are very different games, and I can tell it’s going to take him a while to get on his feet here again.

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