From the Torygraph

Joe Marler on the verge of retiring from rugby following 10-week ban for 'fondlegate'



England loosehead is dissatisfied with the suspension and social-distancing has emphasised how much he values time with his family
By Kate Rowan 29 March 2020 • 6:35pm

Joe Marler, the England and Harlequins prop, Marler is on the verge of deciding to quit rugby with immediate effect.

It is understood that the 29 year-old has become increasingly dissatisfied since he was given a 10-week ban earlier this month for grabbing Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones by the genitals during England’s 33-30 victory three weeks ago.

It was reported by the Mail on Sunday that Marler had become “disillusioned” after receiving the ban and widespread criticism on social media which led to him to suspend both his Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Both are now active again, although Marler has refrained from posting much content bar a retweet on Saturday regarding Harlequins' use of mindfulness in aiding their players’ performance and resilience while practising social-distancing during the coronavirus lockdown.

This may give us a small clue into Marler’s thinking because back in 2018 he called time on his international career due to suffering anxiety from being separated from his wife, Daisy, and young children Jasper and Maggie.

Yet he was able to put this behind him and return to the England fold for their run to the Rugby World Cup final last autumn. During this year’s truncated Six Nations Marler re-established himself as England’s starting loosehead. It is understood that this current period of staying at home with his family and the fall-out from the 10-week ban has brought him to the brink of retirement.

The British and Irish Lion has a year remaining on his Harlequins contract. If he were to leave, this would leave them in trouble both on and off the field because tighthead Kyle Sinckler is departing for Bristol Bears and club captain and flanker Chris Robshaw is also leaving. If Marler were to quit this would leave Paul Gustard’s side without crucial on-field experience, diminish the club’s stock of senior internationals and deprive Quins of one of the most recognisable players in English rugby.

    Marler: The more I look at you Dan...

    Cole: The more you fall in love with me 😂

    We put the team's art skills to the test with some mixed results 🎨 😕#WearTheRose pic.twitter.com/lrDqEw2HYX
    — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) March 29, 2020

Interestingly, Marler’s departure from the professional game did not seem to be on the minds of those who run the official England Rugby Twitter account for the RFU when they posted a video on Sunday (above) with Marler starring in comical fashion as he painted a portrait of fellow prop Dan Cole. That video was shot during the Six Nations but it shows the importance of Marler’s appeal beyond the field.

Harlequins were approached by Telegraph Sport but declined to provide further comment.

disagree Jammy throwing a strop because of (another) Welsh inspired witch hunt against him......

Go and look at a G5 mast and have a good think

The abuse of sports people on social media is quite disgusting.
Recently, Will Carling was doing a nice thing where we was getting rugby players to make short videos for peoples parents and grandparents that were feeling lonely during their isolation. 
Mike Brown made a video for this.  Some of the comments underneath the video were shocking though.  Carling called one of the comments out and surprise, surprise, the tweet was deleted PDQ.
But, I can't understand the mentality of someone who follows people on Twitter just so that can hurl abuse.

TBH, I cant understand social media full stop.  ..........
** If someone can tick agree/like, I would be really grateful!!!

Sums it up for me.

Since this corona virus business started I have been persuaded to join a local Facebook group and an extended family Whatsapp thing.

I have never read so much drivel since I left the Infants class!

Seems odd people saying “ Don’t do social media” on here
A Forum/on line discussion is a form of social media, as long as used responsibly can be good, yes there’s drivel etc.
But the abuse is without doubt is the worst parts
And one of the worst things about the 6 Nations is it brings out some of the biggest culprits

Its not that I "dont do it". Like I said, I use it in some form and think some of it is really good, in terms of being able to keep up to date with Quins news etc.  I count this forum as the same sort of thing, yeah it has its moments but you do get some really good/interesting stuff on here.  Its all the nonsense I dont get, the constant need for acceptance.  Always makes me chuckle when I read stories about benefit cheats etc caught out due to postings they have made on their various SM platforms, showing them water skiing , wrestling with tigers, all while claiming not to be able to walk up stairs unaided!! 

Sums it up for me.

Since this corona virus business started I have been persuaded to join a local Facebook group and an extended family Whatsapp thing.

I have never read so much drivel since I left the Infants class!

Have you looked at The Cheats SN message board lately?

I think you can remove "sports" from that sentence to be fair.

Very true. It bewilders me how people can spout venom and bile at someone they've never met, simply because they don't agree with an opinion.

I got roped into using Twitter for a business thing, and started following a few people. Julia Hartley-Brewer, the Talk Radio presenter being one. Not everyone's cup of tea, but that's the mix of life. Each day she posts "Join me for my breakfast show..." etc. Most days you get some idiotic response like "No thanks you vile old hag", or MUCH worse. What's the point? When these people go past a pub with a sign saying "Come in and watch live sport", do they run inside and scream at the landlord "P*** off you ***!"?

Sadly, people sit behind keyboards and think they're being witty, or cutting, or super smart... but come across as idiots.*

* Not on CAW of course - we're all charming, polite, and intelligent. By the way, shouldn't there be a new "Gussy Out" thread? We haven't won a game in ages...