Joe Marler, the well-known former England rugby prop, has been candid about the joys and uncertainties that come with life after professional sport. Since hanging up his boots last November, Marler has charted a unique post-rugby path, which now includes a high-profile role on a popular BBC television show and a newfound enthusiasm for an entirely different sport.
Now aged 34, Marler’s rugby career was nothing short of illustrious. He earned 95 international caps for England, made almost 300 appearances for Harlequins, secured two Premiership titles, and lifted the European Challenge Cup. He also had the distinction of touring New Zealand with the British & Irish Lions, and he featured in England’s Rugby World Cup final squad in 2019. Yet, all good things come to an end, and Marler announced his retirement last autumn, describing it as “finally jumping off the rollercoaster and walking away from this beautifully brutal game”.
Adjusting to a life beyond the physical and emotional demands of rugby has, by Marler’s own admission, not been entirely straightforward. Speaking to MailOnline, he revealed the process of rediscovering his identity has been “tricky”. The transition from the routine and regimen of professional sport is a challenge familiar to many athletes, and Marler is no exception. “I’m still trying to work out what life outside of rugby looks like,” he shared.
While there was some temptation to head overseas for corporate engagements in Australia, Marler decided instead to savour his first quiet summer with his family. “It’s the first time we’ve been able to book a holiday that’s not last minute and I’m really enjoying that side of it,” he said. The experience clearly represents a radical change from the unpredictable and often frantic scheduling of a rugby player’s life. However, Marler confesses to an ongoing unease, admitting: “There is stuff at the back of my head that I have to suppress quite a lot, where I’m constantly thinking about what the next 40 years look like.”
Speculation about Marler’s post-retirement adventures began soon after his announcement. He’d previously expressed an interest in trying out reality television, joking about appearing on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! However, his immediate step into TV has come courtesy of the BBC: Marler is part of the much-anticipated first celebrity edition of The Traitors, which is set to air later this year. The line-up also includes major British personalities such as Stephen Fry, Clare Balding, Charlotte Church, Alan Carr, and Olympic gold medallist Tom Daley.
Marler seems to be embracing both the excitement and humility of his new television venture. “I’m going away for a few weeks to Scotland. Let’s call it a work trip. I suspect I’ll get on there and no one will have a clue who I am – they’ll be like ‘Are you here to fit the mics?’” he joked. The prop is particularly keen to meet Stephen Fry, describing him as a “national treasure,” but remains aware that reality TV is a “whole different ball game” compared to the competitive environment of professional rugby.
Alongside his media commitments, Marler has turned his competitive drive toward padel, a fast-growing sport that blends elements of tennis and squash. His first experience with padel came during the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, and he was quickly hooked. “I started playing padel at the World Cup and fell in love with it,” he admitted. Social media posts about his new hobby soon caught the attention of padel brand Nox, leading to a role as one of their ambassadors.
Despite freely confessing to his amateur status, Marler has already captained a side in the 2025 Cupra Pro-Am Padel Tour, facing off against a team led by comedian Jason Manford. “I told them, ‘You do know I’m not very good?’ But next thing I’m off to Barcelona getting schooled by these 16-year-olds,” he laughed. Marler says padel brings both friendly competition and valuable opportunities to meet new people, which has been important in the absence of rugby.
Joe Marler’s journey since his retirement exemplifies the compelling mix of opportunity, challenge and reinvention many elite athletes face. By stepping into both mainstream television and an emerging sport, he appears determined to shape a varied and fulfilling second act, even as he contends with the lingering questions about the decades ahead – an experience likely to resonate with fellow players and fans alike.