Marler: Add counsellor to help Lions party cope with long spell away
Joe Marler has urged the British and Irish Lions to add a specialist counsellor to their touring party for South Africa to help players and staff cope with an extended spell in their bubble environment.
Including next month' s training camp in Jersey and quarantine on return, the Lions will be away from home for over two months in an itinerary that culminates in a threetest series against the world champions.
Warren Gatland has highlighted the importance of looking after the players' well-being and Marler, who was overlooked for the tour, believes a squad therapist would be invaluable.
The England prop has spoken openly of his battle with depression and on Wednesday
Sky Sports will screen his documentary 'Big Boys Don’t Cry', which explores ways in which poor mental health can be managed.
“Maybe it would be worth taking an extra member of staff who is suited in that sphere. I think that would be a very good idea,” said Marler, a Lions tourist in 2017. “And if they’re not going to take someone qualified, then they definitely need to have a conversation as a whole touring party at the start. Lions tours are tough enough as they are, being away from your families, but this one is in particular. You could nominate guys to be available to check in with for a chat, but players have got games to think about.
“Off the top of my head, there have been a couple of sports psychologists on tours but they tend to be focused around the performance side of things. They’re not qualified in the clinical side.”