‘Do I look like a porn star or do I look like a fat, retired rugby player watching daytime TV?’ says Joe Marler, lumbering onto a sofa and shuffling uncomfortably into a suggestive pose. He raises one eyebrow for the camera, pouting and scrunching up his face. Anything but the ordinary. ‘I might have more time on my hands now but that doesn’t mean I’m going to start watching Married At First Sight,’ he adds.
![[Marler revealed his daughter Maggie (left) was in tears trying to convince him to retire]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/08/11/91846449-14059185-image-a-14_1731066695757.jpg)
We already know Marler is a master at working the room. He happily plays the fool, bumbling around in shorts and a Peaky Blinders-style flat cap on a cold autumnal evening. But over the course of two hours, discussing the decision to call time on his England career, we see a different side. Watery eyes and words with more meaning than the easy gags.
![[Marler sat down with Mail Sport's Nik Simon (left) to talk all things from retirement to Donald Trump]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/08/11/91845599-14059185-image-a-2_1731065587092.jpg)
There is plenty to cover – Donald Trump, Eddie Jones, Strictly Come Dancing – but let’s start with the night he told Steve Borthwick that it was time to call it a day. ‘I did the Girona training week – it’s lovely, Girona – but at the end of the last training session, knackered, I sat in the sun thinking, “I can’t do this anymore”,' he says. 'The game’s passed me by now, I can’t keep up. It was sad to admit. How long can you flog a dead horse?.
![[Joe Marler has opened up on why he retired and how he went about announcing his decision]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/08/11/91845607-14059185-image-a-1_1731065007549.jpg)
Joe Marler is happy to play the fool but cast aside the jokes to announce his retirement. Marler revealed his daughter Maggie (left) was in tears trying to convince him to retire. Marler sat down with Mail Sport's Nik Simon (left) to talk all things from retirement to Donald Trump.
![[Marler informed Steve Borthwick of his decision to retire at the end of England's training camp in Girona]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/08/11/91845945-14059185-image-a-3_1731065750990.jpg)
