In a statement on Instagram, Marler wrote: “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’s 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 it untarnished, all these memories of my career, both good and bad. I don’t want to leave my house with my kids crying. I’m ready to make the change.”
The haka incident is far from the first time that Marler has courted controversy. He had previously called Wales prop Samson Lee a “gypsy boy” and grabbed Alun Wyn Jones’ genitals, on a long list of misdemeanours. Coaches were liable to forgive his indiscretions for his powerful scrummaging ability and his colourful personality, as head coach Steve Borthwick alluded to in his statement.
“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,” Borthwick said. “We’ll miss his humour, sense of fun, and the energy he brought to the squad. We’re grateful for all he’s given to England rugby, and though we won’t see him in an England jersey any more, he’ll always be part of this team. Thank you, Joe.”
Marler remains under contract with Harlequins and while he has previously retired from international rugby in 2018 and, unofficially, in 2022 there is no sense that he will be tempted out for “one last job” as he was for the 2019 and 2023 World Cups. After Marler was part of an England scrum that was demolished by South Africa in the 2019 final, he and his close friend Dan Cole earned a measure of redemption in the 2023 semi-final ensuring England had set-piece parity while they were on the pitch.
“It’s the friendship and respect of team-mates like Dan that I’ll cherish the most,” Marler wrote. “The fun we had reaching the Rugby World Cup final in Japan in 2019. Coming off together in the semi-final against South Africa in 2023, sitting down on the bench, patting each other on the leg and saying, ‘We did alright there, old son.’
“When I first got picked to play for England, 14 years ago, I was terrified. I wasn’t good enough. I had bleached hair with red bits in it. I couldn’t even drive myself to Pennyhill Park. I had to ask a mate to drop me off. When he did, he asked me if I could nick him some stash as a souvenir. I met Martin Johnson before training, and he towered over me and told me to get a haircut.”
