Former Harlequins and England prop Joe Marler recently spilled the beans on his decision to retire from rugby, diving deep into his emotions and realizations on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast. Alongside figures like James Haskell and Jonny May, Marler discussed how his later years in the sport morphed from passion to burden.
Marler confessed, “I got to a point in my career where I absolutely loved playing for England, and the club team that I was part of; everyone had slowly retired or left, and numbers were dwindling. I hadn’t really engaged with the younger lot to make more connections, so I just ended up becoming that old f****** in the corner who was just miserable about everything.” This self-awareness led him to a tough conclusion. “Then it sort of really dawned on me that I was poisoning the changing room, and I was like, ‘I can’t keep doing this to myself’. I was just going into work miserable.”
Reflecting on the dynamics within his club, Marler realized the environment had shifted dramatically. “Because I’d stopped with England, it was like, ‘I’m flogging a dead horse here. I need to get out of this.’ I don’t think I’d made many friends with that coaching setup or that crop of players.”
"You've changed" and "You grew up"
Jonny May noted the transformation in Marler over the years, from a lively young player to a more seasoned and serious professional. Marler acknowledged this shift, crediting former England coach Graham Rowntree for steering his focus. “70% of your involvements are carries or attacking and 30% rucks. If you want to play for England, it’s got to be the other way around,” Rowntree had advised, pushing Marler to prioritize the fundamentals over flair.
May added his perspective on maturity in rugby, “You get to a point where, if you want to become taken more seriously and become experienced, you’ve got to adapt and change. I always took my rugby seriously and tried my best, but I was loose and raw and just would mess around a lot like a kid on a holiday camp when I was at England.”
The dialogue not only sheds light on Marler’s personal evolution but also encapsulates the broader transformation players undergo in their careers, highlighting the balance between youthful exuberance and professional growth. As Marler steps away, his reflections leave a poignant reminder of the emotional and mental shifts that define a rugby player’s journey.
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Former Harlequins and England prop Joe Marler recently spilled the beans on his decision to retire from rugby, diving deep into his emotions and realizations on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast. Alongside figures like James Haskell and Jonny May, Marler discussed how his later years in the sport morphed from passion to burden.
Marler confessed, “I got to a point in my career where I absolutely loved playing for England, and the club team that I was part of; everyone had slowly retired or left, and numbers were dwindling. I hadn’t really engaged with the younger lot to make more connections, so I just ended up becoming that old f****** in the corner who was just miserable about everything.” This self-awareness led him to a tough conclusion. “Then it sort of really dawned on me that I was poisoning the changing room, and I was like, ‘I can’t keep doing this to myself’. I was just going into work miserable.”
Reflecting on the dynamics within his club, Marler realized the environment had shifted dramatically. “Because I’d stopped with England, it was like, ‘I’m flogging a dead horse here. I need to get out of this.’ I don’t think I’d made many friends with that coaching setup or that crop of players.”
"You've changed" and "You grew up"
Jonny May noted the transformation in Marler over the years, from a lively young player to a more seasoned and serious professional. Marler acknowledged this shift, crediting former England coach Graham Rowntree for steering his focus. “70% of your involvements are carries or attacking and 30% rucks. If you want to play for England, it’s got to be the other way around,” Rowntree had advised, pushing Marler to prioritize the fundamentals over flair.
May added his perspective on maturity in rugby, “You get to a point where, if you want to become taken more seriously and become experienced, you’ve got to adapt and change. I always took my rugby seriously and tried my best, but I was loose and raw and just would mess around a lot like a kid on a holiday camp when I was at England.”
The dialogue not only sheds light on Marler’s personal evolution but also encapsulates the broader transformation players undergo in their careers, highlighting the balance between youthful exuberance and professional growth. As Marler steps away, his reflections leave a poignant reminder of the emotional and mental shifts that define a rugby player’s journey.