Veteran England prop Joe Marler has announced his retirement from international rugby just days after taking the social media world by storm with his comments on the All Blacks haka causing a huge controversy.
The 34-year-old’s decision was confirmed via England Rugby’s social media channels.
Marler has 95 caps under his name for his country, which included featuring at three Rugby World Cups.
The loosehead prop left the England camp last week leading up to the All Blacks clash due to “personal reasons” and that now appears to have been his final departure from the international scene.
England head coach Steve Borthwick was full of praise for the player, who bows out after 12 years in Test rugby and will now focus solely on club matters at Harlequins.
Borthwick says Marler 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.
He says they are grateful for all Marler has given to England rugby, and though they won’t see him in an England jersey anymore, he’ll always be part of the team.
Meanwhile, England will take on the Wallabies at 3.10am Sunday in Twickenham.
Source: Planet Rugby
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