"Delay that retirement" – Joe Marler teases he could leave Harlequins for new team
Yesterday at 04:03 PM
According to reports from the Daily Mail, a new professional league is being planned to tempt the biggest rugby stars away from traditional competitions.
Echoing the disruption seen in golf with LIV, this proposal has ambitious entrepreneurs aiming to roll out lucrative deals for high-profile players. Sources suggest that discontented England players even contemplated boycotting last month's training camp in Spain.
The vision for this new franchise-based league is gaining traction, with funding still in progress and star players reportedly intrigued by the idea. The project is targeting a potential launch in 2026, and it's already causing a stir.
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Joe Marler Weighs In – With a Wink
Harlequins prop Joe Marler, known for his cheeky persona, chimed in on the speculation through X (formerly Twitter), giving a light-hearted endorsement.
"Why couldn't this have been set up five years ago?" he posted. "About time things had a change-up. Rugby is beautifully brutal and that's how it should be sold."
The Family Moment That Changed Everything
Earlier this month, Marler opened up about the emotional turning point that led to his retirement from England duty. With 95 caps and a career at Harlequins spanning back to 2009, the 34-year-old prop shocked fans by stepping away from the national team.
In a heart-wrenching admission to the Daily Mail, he described the exhaustion he felt after the training camp in Girona:
"I did the Girona training week but at the end of the last training session, knackered, I sat in the sun thinking, 'I can't do this anymore'," he revealed. "The game's passed me by now, I can't keep up. It was sad to admit. How long can you flog a dead horse?"
But what really sealed the decision was a tearful goodbye with his daughter, Maggie. Recalling that moment, Marler shared: "On the Sunday night, when I went back into camp, I'd sort of made my mind up. It wasn't a kneejerk thing.
"My daughter Maggie was crying her eyes out about me leaving asking, 'Why do you have to keep going away?' and I was like 'Awh, it's my job'. It's my job but there's always a choice."
Marler's choice marks a significant shift, and his story only adds to the growing tension in a rugby world poised for possible seismic changes.
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