Joe Marler names toughest opponent: 'He'd knock s*** outta ya'
Today at 02:09 PM
Former England and Harlequins prop Joe Marler, one of rugby's most colorful characters, has opened up about the toughest opponents he faced during his career following his retirement.
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Known for his scrummaging prowess and sharp wit, Marler’s international career spanned 95 caps over 12 years, during which he won three Six Nations Championships with England.
At club level, he was a one-club man, making 204 appearances for Harlequins, where he lifted two Premiership titles and the European Challenge Cup.
Now, as he prepares to hang up his boots following Harlequins' Premiership clash against Bristol Bears at The Stoop, Joe Marler has reflected on the players who tested him the most.
#1. CARL HAYMAN
Major teams: Barbarians, Highlanders, Newcastle Falcons, Toulon, New Zealand, New Zealand Maori
Position: Prop
Caps: 45
MARLER SAID: "I played against him when he was at Newcastle, and he basically would knock s**t outta ya for 80 minutes. It was like playing against a prop with the fitness levels of a flanker."
BIO: One of the most dominant tighthead props of his era, Carl Hayman combined brutal scrummaging power with surprising mobility around the pitch. After a stellar career with the Highlanders and Newcastle Falcons, he became a cornerstone of Toulon's European dominance, winning three Champions Cups.
DID YOU KNOW? Hayman was once the highest-paid rugby player in the world during his time at Toulon.
#2. RORY BEST
Major teams: Barbarians, British and Irish Lions, Ireland A, Munster, Ulster, Ireland
Position: Hooker
Caps: 124
MARLER SAID: “Best is hard as nails and a great thrower at the line, plus great in the loose. He was pretty underrated in my opinion.”
BIO: A true leader on and off the field, Rory Best captained Ireland to some of their greatest modern-day achievements, including a Grand Slam in 2018 and their first-ever win over New Zealand in 2016. Known for his durability and work ethic, he became the cornerstone of Ireland’s pack for over a decade.
DID YOU KNOW? Best is Ireland’s most-capped forward and only the second hooker to reach 100 caps for the nation.
#3. TADHG FURLONG
Major teams: Leinster, British and Irish Lions, Ireland
Position: Tighthead Prop
Caps: 77
MARLER SAID: “His recent performances reminded everyone why he is rated as one of the best tightheads in world rugby.”
BIO: Known as the 'Jukebox' because he gets everyone dancing, Tadhg Furlong is a generational tighthead prop who blends old-school scrummaging power with silky ball-handling skills. A two-time British and Irish Lion and a cornerstone of Leinster’s pack, Furlong is a modern-day legend of Irish rugby.
DID YOU KNOW? Furlong played Gaelic football in his youth and is known for his quick wit and love of traditional Irish music.
#4. TONY WOODCOCK
Major teams: Blues, Highlanders, North Harbour, New Zealand
Position: Prop
Caps: 118
MARLER SAID: “I think he was a farmer. He epitomised those earthy, no-nonsense values on the rugby field, getting on with the job. The player I looked up to most early in my career.”
BIO: A legendary loosehead prop, Tony Woodcock was a key part of New Zealand’s dominant All Blacks era, playing in two Rugby World Cup Finals. Known for his no-nonsense attitude, exceptional scrummaging, and endurance, he remains one of the most respected forwards in rugby history.
DID YOU KNOW? Woodcock famously scored the only try in New Zealand’s narrow 8-7 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final.
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JOE MARLER QUIZ:
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