‘Gypsy boy’ row was turning point, says Marler

ENGLAND prop Joe Marler has revealed how his involvement in the infamous ‘Gypsy boy’ furore in 2016 was the turning point in an international career he has cut surprisingly short.

Marler, 28, stunned English rugby by retiring from the Test scene last month citing personal reasons.

He later admitted that there were times when he deliberately got himself yellow carded in order to receive bans that would allow him to miss matches.

But in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Marler traced his disaffection with the top level of the game back to the incident that saw him aim the above insult towards his Wales opponent Samson Lee in a Six Nations match at Twickenham.

Marler said: “That was a big turning point, there was such a lack of enjoyment which was why I pulled out of the tour.

“It was something I’d never experienced before. There’s no textbook about how to deal with being banned for a racist comment in a rugby match.”

Marler also told how a remark former Wales international, one of his team mates at Harlequins, had a profound effect on his attitude.

He added: “I’m not the easiest of blokes at times. I know that. Down the years I have been a prat at times – those (Mohican) haircuts, gobbing off, red cards – yeah, guilty.

“It was when, Olly Kohn (the former Harlequins lock who was capped once by Wales in the 2013 Six Nations), who was known as Fisherman’s Friend as he was nice to everyone, told me that I was being a bit of a d*** that the penny finally dropped. Olly broke down that barrier.

“I like to think I’ve developed a bit of self-awareness since then. It was cathartic.

“That’s a big word for me. But it’s the right one. “