England boss Eddie Jones says he understands Joe Marler’s “reasoning” after the Harlequins prop announced his immediate retirement from international rugby.
The 28-year-old forward, who has won 59 England caps, told Quins TV he had made the decision to spend more time with his family.
Marler, one of British rugby’s most colourful and controversial characters, will continue to play for Quins.
Marler had a six-year international career, making his first and last England appearances against South Africa in 2012 and 2018, and also toured New Zealand last year with the British and Irish Lions.
His decision will be a big blow to Jones just a year out from the World Cup in Japan.
Although Marler is currently England’s preferred back-up loosehead to Mako Vunipola, he remained a key part of Jones’ plans and could have expected to be involved in this season’s autumn Test schedule, which features games against world champions New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Japan.
In a statement released by Quins, Jones said: “Joe is a great player and team member, so I am disappointed and we will miss him. But he has made his decision on personal grounds and we understand his reasoning.
“He’s a good guy – an honest, mature person who understands the demands of the game and the demands of family life. I have got to admire his honesty and the way he has gone about this.”
Marler withdrew from a three-day England training camp in Bristol earlier this week, citing “personal reasons,” while he also pulled out of England’s 2016 tour of Australia due to not being in the right frame of mind to play international rugby.
Prior to that Australia trip, he received a two-week ban and £20,000 fine for calling Wales prop Samson Lee “gypsy boy” during a Six Nations game between the countries at Twickenham.
In his first match back he was then cited for kicking Grenoble forward Arnaud Heguy in a European Challenge Cup fixture and received a fortnight’s suspension.
In terms of his international retirement, Marler said it was probably pre-England’s South Africa tour this summer that he had already made his mind up.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to represent my country, and of course this has been a very difficult decision to make,” he said.
“But I have decided to retire from playing international rugby with immediate effect to spend more time with my family.
“It is an incredible commitment to play rugby for England, and I strongly believe that if you are unable to give yourself fully to it then it is time to step away, otherwise it would not be fair on the team, or my family.
“Being with England you have to spend an incredible amount of time away, and I could not do that any more.
“So now is the time to walk away and get some new blood in the team. And I am looking forward to being able to give my wife and children more of my time.
“I would like to thank everyone at England for the opportunities that I have been given. I will always be grateful for the memories playing for my country has given me.”
Last season, Marler was was banned on two separate occasions for striking opposing players with his shoulder and elbow, receiving suspensions of six and three weeks.
Despite his disciplinary issues, though, he was was a key part of England regimes under the coaching of Stuart Lancaster and currently Jones, with 43 of his international appearances being as a starting XV player, with just 16 off the bench.
With Marler no longer available and highly-rated Leicester loosehead Ellis Genge and Bath forward Beno Obano both currently recovering from long-term injuries, Jones’ loosehead prop options behind Vunipola have suffered another setback.
