England Player Profiles

Joe Marler

Key Facts

Squad	Harlequins
Position	Prop
Age	22
Height	1.84m (6'0")
Weight	110kg (17st 4lb)
Caps	11

Captaining England at any level is an accolade and Joe Marler did it for the U18 side against Wales five years ago, stepped up for his England Saxons’ debut against Italy A in January 2011 and 17 months later won his first two England caps against South Africa in Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. Joe started four of last season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship games, played off the bench against Italy and started the first Test against Argentina at Salta in June.

He joined the Harlequins' Academy in June 2008, spent the ensuing season on loan to Worthing, has figured on a similar basis for Esher and first played for the Quins' A team against London Wasps. By the end of last season, he had made 81 appearances for Harlequins, including 57 in the Premiership with four tries.

Joe, from Eastbourne, was educated at Maynards Green Primary School and Heathfield Community College and began playing when 11 for Eastbourne Sharks.

His advances in the game not only feature playing for Sussex Under 14-18 but also representing London & South East in 2006. Moving on, he played for England U18 in Argentina and in the IRB Junior World Championship in Japan four years ago.

He appeared in all ten competitive matches played by England U20 in 2010, scoring two tries in the 41-14 win over Wales at Kingsholm and one in the IRB Junior World Championship third place play off when England lost 27-22 to South Africa at Rosario that June.

Strong coaching influences on his game have been Will Stadler, his first mentor, followed by Tony Diprose and Ceri Jones, the former Harlequins’ loose head prop. Joe’s father Paul, who played for local club Hellingly, introduced him to rugby and to the front row where he has appeared throughout his career.

Players that he especially respects are Nick Easter, Matt Ryan and Peter Bracken while his outside interests include cinema and golf. His favourite ground is Roundstone Lane, Worthing and his best memory – a match for the Sussex club against Dings Crusaders.