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Joe Marler is believed to be on the verge of announcing his retirement from international rugby.
The 28 year-old withdrew on Sunday from the three-day training camp in Bristol citing ‘personal reasons’ and there is now increased speculation that the long-standing international loosehead, who was part of the Lions midweek side on the tour to New Zealand in 2017, is set to call time on his England career.
It will be a blow to Eddie Jones only 12 months out from the World Cup in Japan with Marler a valued member of the front-row resources, dovetailing with Mako Vunipola on the starting roster.
Marler has had his issues down the years, withdrawing from Jones’ first tour in charge to Australia in June 2016. The England head coach was sympathetic to the concerns expressed by Marler at the time who felt that he was not able to focus properly on what was needed in the Test arena as he felt swamped by all the scrutiny that followed the ‘Gypsy Boy’ episode in the Six Nations Championship.
The drawn-out saga, with TV mics picking up the slur directed at Wales prop Samson Lee had taken its toll. Marler was initially cleared by the RFU only for World Rugby to step in and ban the prop for two matches and fine him £20,000.
Marler is also not averse to finding himself in disciplinary hot water. It was only a few weeks after the Lee incident and subsequent contentious suspension that he picked up a two-week ban for kicking Grenoble hooker Arnaud Heguy in the head.
At the time of pulling out of the Australia tour, Marler was honest about what he felt were his shortcomings.
“Whenever you play for England you have to be 100 per cent and unfortunately I’m not in that place,” said Marler. “I would be letting my teammates and country down if I were to tour.”
Marler, who has a young family and commutes to work at Harlequins from his native Sussex, did consider retiring from international rugby at that point but weighed things up over the summer, sought professional help, and returned refreshed.
“I didn’t know how it was going to pan out – at that point I didn’t care,” Marler said a few months later. “Of course I care but at that point I was like ‘ this is not important to me.’ I had to make that judgement knowing that I may not get back in the squad again.”
Marler has been bench replacement to Mako Vunipola for much of the last 12-18 months. Leicester’s Ellis Genge is very much in the mix but he is currently injured. Exeter Chiefs’ Alec Hepburn is also in contention.
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