Joe Marler looked for bans to miss England duty
In a startling admission, Harlequins prop Joe Marler has revealed that he tried to pick up suspensions in order to miss internationals for England.
The front-row forward, who recently announced his retirement from the Test game at the age of 28, is now focussing his career solely on club rugby.
But speaking to The Rugby Pod, Marler appears to admit that at times he went looking for yellow or red cards in order to be banned for England duty.
“The anxiety I would get about having to leave and go away again would manifest itself in giving away more dull penalties and looking for outs, looking for a yellow card, looking for a red card, because if I could pick up a ban, that’s an easy way out without actually pulling the trigger,” he said.
Marler continued by saying that while playing for Harlequins against Bristol Bears in September, he reached a point where enough was enough.
“After that game, I said: ‘I can’t keep doing this. It’s not fair on my family; it’s not fair on the club’,” he said regarding looking for suspensions.
Now out of the international game, British and Irish Lions forward Marler admitted that having a family also altered his mindset on the field.
“I really enjoyed my time with England but as soon as I had kids, it completely flipped my perspective,” he said.
Quins prop Marler has since taken to Twitter to clarify his comments, stating that he has “never done anything deliberately” to receive a suspension.
I would like to clarify my comments on @TheRugbyPod this morning that have been taken out of context. I have never deliberately done anything on a rugby pitch – or off it – to get a ban….. 1/2
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) October 2, 2018
….. I was simply reflecting on my occasional irrational behaviour when England camps were looming and trying to understand my actions a little bit better. 2/2
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) October 2, 2018