Joe Marler on Retirement: Adjusting to Life After Rugby

Joe Marler, the former England rugby prop has opened up about his ongoing mental health struggles which continued during his career and into retirement. The 34-year-old retired from Test rugby last month, stepping away before the autumn internationals despite initially being named in the England squad. After playing a farewell match for Harlequins, he officially left the game. Speaking on the For the Love of Rugby podcast, Marler revealed the challenges of adjusting to life outside the structured environment of professional rugby.

“Post-tour or campaign, there’s a natural lull,” he said, describing how the absence of a set routine and camaraderie left him feeling adrift. Despite cherishing time with his family, he often struggled to find his place after returning home. Marler credited therapy for helping him manage his mental health, particularly before England’s summer tour of Japan and New Zealand.

While therapy provided tools for coping during the tour, he admitted that he paused sessions over the summer, thinking he felt fine, only to later realize the importance of staying consistent with support. “I’m trying to move past the mindset of ‘I feel good, so I don’t need help,’” he explained.

Throughout his career, Joe Marler was candid about his mental health, detailing struggles with depression, anger and self-doubt. He described episodes like crying en route to training, destructive outbursts and relying on anti-depressants. Reflecting on his on-field behavior including taunting opponents and controversial antics—he suggested they may have stemmed from insecurities or a need for attention.

“I sometimes lack confidence in my abilities and try to justify my place in a different way,” he admitted while also acknowledging his long-standing tendency to provoke others. Marler’s honesty highlights the complexities of mental health in elite sports and his ongoing efforts to address them.