Joe Marler attended the match at Twickenham on Saturday, where England faced New Zealand, ultimately losing 24-22. Following this match, Marler announced his retirement from international rugby after earning 95 caps. He made his debut for England during the summer tour to South Africa in 2012 and was part of three Six Nations-winning teams in 2016, 2017, and 2020. Additionally, Marler participated in three Rugby World Cups, including the 2019 tournament where England finished as runners-up to South Africa.

At 34 years old, Marler expressed that it was time for him to move on. He reflected on his journey with England, stating he felt lucky to experience both the highs and lows while wearing the national jersey. He cherished each moment as they all contributed to his career. Although he was part of the British and Irish Lions squad that toured New Zealand in 2017, he did not play in any Test matches during that tour. He also made a single appearance for the Barbarians in 2019.

In 2018, Marler briefly stepped away from international rugby but returned just ahead of the World Cup the following year. Recently named in coach Steve Borthwick’s squad for the autumn internationals, he withdrew for personal reasons shortly before the matches commenced. His last game for England was against New Zealand in July, where he sustained a foot injury after just 17 minutes.

Marler shared on social media that playing for England felt surreal and that he had always anticipated returning to his younger self. However, he recognized it was time to step back as he felt he could no longer perform at his previous level. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing his family and expressed a desire to retain fond memories of his career without any regrets.

Borthwick praised Marler as an exceptional contributor to English rugby, noting both his competitive spirit on the field and his unique personality off it. The coach acknowledged how much he would miss Marler’s humor and energy within the squad.

Earlier this week, Marler faced criticism for calling the New Zealand haka “ridiculous,” later expressing regret about how he communicated his thoughts on the matter. While not playing in Saturday’s close match against New Zealand, many believe that had he been on the field at that moment, England might have secured a different outcome.