England loosehead Joe Marler is one of the game’s truly colourful and entertaining characters.
Whether you love him or loath him, there is no denying that the 34-year-old sticks to his guns as an authentic and interesting character.
On the pitch, Marler remains a key cog for both club and country heading into the 2024/25 season. Maintaining his high work rate whilst offering an experience and physicality at set piece time, the Harlequins man doesn’t look like slowing down any time soon.
Discussing his comeback from a broken foot which he sustained whilst playing for England against the All Blacks in July, Marler offered an update as to why his recovery has been ‘Slower than expected’ and it has nothing to do with rugby.
Joining his Quins and England teammate Marcus Smith as a guest on TNT Sports’ coverage of Arsenal’s Premier League match against Brighton, Marler was asked by host Jules Breach about his injury.
Explaining that upon his return from New Zealand, he had to transition from rugby player to family man, the 120kg powerhouse didn’t quite have the textbook rehab set-up.
“That’s probably because I’ve been non-compliant with the non-weight-bearing. I was supposed to be non-weight-bearing and in a boot for four weeks and I’ve been away for five weeks with my wife and four kids. So when they said you’ve got to be off your feet for four weeks sat on your bum doing nothing, I said ‘can you tell my wife that? Because that’s not happening.’
“And of course it was festival season, so I had to go to a lot of festivals. So it’s been a bit slower than expected. I’ll be back soon, let’s go with that one.”
“I’ll be back soon, let’s go with that” 👀
An unconventional injury update from @JoeMarler himself 😂 pic.twitter.com/bysXPv7Xsj
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) September 2, 2024
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