Former England and Harlequins rugby star Joe Marler has spoken candidly about his fears over potential long-term brain damage from his playing career and the mental health challenges of retirement. The 35-year-old, who played for Harlequins from 2009 to 2024 and earned 95 caps for England, has transitioned into a successful media career as a podcast host and reality TV star, reaching the final of Celebrity Traitors before losing to Alan Carr.
Brain Damage Concerns
In an interview with The Times, Marler addressed his concerns about neurological conditions linked to rugby. He said: "If I have damaged my brain, then the damage is done already. I'd rather not know. I'm a head in the sand kind of guy. There's not a lot I can do about it now. As long as you are aware of the dangers, then it is up to you whether you choose to play the sport or not."
Mental Health and Retirement
Marler also reflected on the impact of retirement on his mental and physical health. He noted that reduced exercise affected him significantly: "Exercising less affected me physically and mentally. When I stopped playing, the drive and the motivation dropped off. Slowly each week I was melting like a wheelie bin. I was feeling really bad about myself. I'd look in the mirror and think, 'Oh God, what's happened to me?'"
To combat this, Marler now goes to the gym four to five times a week, which he says has improved his emotional and mental state. "I've been feeling so much better physically, but mainly emotionally and mentally," he added.
Loss of Team Structure
This is not the first time Marler has spoken about the difficulties of retirement. In a previous interview with GQ, he admitted struggling with the loss of team camaraderie: "Yes. I struggle with not being part of a team... I definitely underestimated after rugby how much that would affect me, being on my own a lot."
He reached out to former teammates for support, who reassured him that his feelings were normal. "I reached out to a couple of them and said, 'Lads, this is how I'm feeling. I'm really struggling.' They were like, 'That's completely normal, this is how we felt - the lack of structure, the lack of connection day to day with the same people, the lack of purpose, getting after something every week, each month, every season.'"
When Marler asked when the feeling would pass, they responded: "Mate, it's fine. It takes about five years."
