Joe Marler

In England's opening game vs Argentina, he replaced Ellis Genge in the 54th minute.

He played in all Group matches, the Quarter Final win against Fiji and the Semi Final loss to South Africa.

He did not play in the Bronze Medal match against Argentina.

Joseph William George Marler (born 7 July 1990) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins and the England national team.

Marler was educated at Maynards Green Primary School and Heathfield Community College and began playing at the age of 11 for Eastbourne Sharks.

His stepping stones in the game not only include playing for Sussex Under 14-18 but also representing London & South East in 2006.

Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees.

Marler joined the Harlequins Academy in 2008 and made his first team debut in the 2009-2010 season, after spending some time on loan to Esher and Worthing.

Marler has described his time in the lower tiers as a necessary learning curve that has allowed him to experience all the tricks of the trade at prop.

He particularly points to the technical advice he received from one Bobby Walsh, a former coach, on scrummaging.

The knowledge gained at this level has allowed him to occasionally cover the tighthead side of the scrum.

In 2008 Marler was captain for England at U18s level.

He represented England U20 in the 2009 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and was a member of the squad that finished runners up to New Zealand at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship.

The following year saw him score two tries in a game against Wales in the 2010 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.

He also scored a try in a defeat against South Africa as England finished fourth at the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship.

He was called into the senior England squad for the 2010 end of year tests as injury cover for David Wilson.

In May 2011 Marler started for the Harlequins side that defeated Stade Français in the final of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

The following season saw Marler play a crucial part in helping Harlequins claim their first ever League title by starting in the 2011–12 Premiership final victory over Leicester Tigers.

In January 2011 Marler started for England A against Italy.

Marler was selected for the 2012 summer tour of South Africa and on 9 June 2012 made his senior debut starting in the opening test defeat to the Springboks.

Marler was selected for the 2013 series against Argentina and then became a regular member of the squad.

Marler captained Harlequins for the 2014-2015 season, replacing Chris Robshaw due to his commitments as England captain in the 2015 World Cup year.

Marler then passed on the captaincy of Harlequins to teammate Danny Care in the following season.

Coach Stuart Lancaster included Marler in his squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and he started for the hosts in the pool stage as they failed to reach the knockout phase.

In January 2016 it was announced that Marler had signed a new contract to stay at the club and later that year he started for the Harlequins side that were defeated by Montpellier in the final of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

On 26 June 2021 Marler won his second league title starting for the Harlequins side that defeated Exeter Chiefs 40-38 in the highest scoring Premiership final ever.

New head coach Eddie Jones included Marler in his squad for the 2016 Six Nations Championship and he came off the bench in the concluding game of the tournament as England defeated France to achieve their first grand slam in over a decade.

The following year saw Marler given the honour of leading the team out on his 50th cap against Scotland in the penultimate round of the 2017 Six Nations Championship.

He also started in the last round of the tournament defeat away to Ireland which ensured England failed to complete consecutive grand slams and also brought an end to a record equalling eighteen successive Test victories.

On 19 April 2017, Marler was one of 41 players selected for the British & Irish Lions' tour to New Zealand in June and July of that year.

He made five appearances in the tour games but did not feature in the Test series against New Zealand.

In September 2018 Marler announced his retirement from international rugby but later reversed his decision, re-joining the England squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Marler came off the bench for the semi-final victory over New Zealand and was a second half replacement for Mako Vunipola in the final as England were defeated by South Africa to finish runners up.

Marler was recruited into the Barbarians squad in 2019, making his only appearance for the team against England on 2 June alongside team mate James Horwill who captained the team.

Marler returned to play for England again, 4 months later at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Marler was recruited again to the squad in 2022, after missing out on a call up to England's 2022 Autumn nations series fixtures alongside fellow England international Zach Mercer.

In March 2020, Marler was banned from playing for 10-weeks after he grabbed Alun Wyn Jones' genitals during a Six Nations match against Wales.

As a result of the coronavirus lockdown, the ban ended without Marler missing any matches since every fixture that Marler could have played was postponed.

In December 2020 Marler was a second-half substitute for Ellis Genge as England defeated France in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup.

In September 2023, Marler returned to the England squad to play in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, his third World Cup with the senior side.