Former England prop Joe Marler has admitted that he ended his rugby career early in order to take part in Celebrity Traitors, which has launched the next stage of his life.
The ex-loosehead, who earned 95 Test caps, officially retired from the game in November 2024, deciding not to complete his Harlequins contract.
Marler spoke of the physical toll the game put on his body, stating that he could not go on any longer, but he has now revealed that the lure of the Traitors was also a key – and potentially the main – factor in his decision to hang up his boots.
Marler’s new revelation
“Traitors came up as an opportunity to do but it was during the last year of my contract, so I had to make a decision. I was like, ‘Do I see out my last year or do I just knock it on the head and gamble, and go and try the Traitors?’” he said on The Jonathan Ross Show
Marler was then asked by comedian Aisling Bea: “You chose the Traitors over finishing the rugby contract?” where he confirmed, “yeah… it worked out.”
The ex-England player reached the final of the show and his appearance on it has paved the way for new opportunities.
“I had so much fun, mate, and I’ve sort of realised out of all the cast that was part of it, I have probably milked it hard haven’t I? It has changed my life to be fair and I’m just trying to ride that wave for as long as I can until what happens that my wife says is going to happen,” the 35-year-old said.
“She said: ‘Just go and do your thing, make hay while the sun shines because you’ll soon become irrelevant and/or cancelled’.
“She’s a real grounder for me.”
Concussion concerns
Marler also spoke a bit about his rugby career, revealing a very concerning concussion which led to him forgetting that he had kids.
“The concussions were bad for me. I remember tackling this big unit Billy Vunipola, huge, and I was like, ‘right, I’m going to level him’, and I did to the point that I had kamikazed straight into his hip with my head.
“The next thing I know is I woke up in the physio room and the kit man comes in. He was like, ‘Hi mate, how are you doing?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, are we doing alright’. He said: ‘Na, we’re losing’. Alright, standard.
“He said: ‘Is Doris here?’ Which is what he called my wife, Daisy. I said: ‘Yeah, I think so’, and he said: ‘What about the kids?’ I said: ‘What?’ And he went, ‘Has she brought the kids up’. I went: ‘What kids?’
“I said: ‘What? Have I got kids?’ I just started balling my eyes out, I had completely forgotten that I had kids.”
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