England in a bind after Marler quits
HE GIVES UP WORLD CUP PAYDAY
JOE MARLER sacrificed a potential £1million payday by sensationally quitting England duty last night. Sportsmail understands the Harlequins prop dropped the bombshell announcement at the Stoop yesterday.
Eyebrows were raised at the timing of the 28- year- old’s decision — less than a year before a World Cup which could be the most lucrative in history for Eddie Jones’ men. One well-placed source said his choice was ‘ almost perverse’ looking at the money he could have earned.
England players are paid a match fee of around £23,000 a game, so featuring in all 20 Tests between now and a potential World Cup final would have earned Marler more than £460,000.
Winning the World Cup would bring a bumper bonus for England squad members too, so 59- cap Marler has waved goodbye to an enormous amount of money by retiring. The maverick forward is not struggling for cash, however. He signed a new four-year deal with Quins in August 2017 believed to be worth around £250,000 annually.
Sources close to the prop were at pains to point out that there has been no falling- out with the England head coach, but indicated that the relentless grind of Jones’ notoriously intense training camps and tours has become too much for Marler — especially as he often featured from the bench behind Mako Vunipola.
The man himself insisted he wanted to spend more time with wife Daisy and children Jasper, four, and Maggie, two.
‘I don’t feel I can give 100 per cent to the England shirt any more,’ he said yesterday. ‘That is not fair on myself, the team or my family. I can’t do it any more. It is not an easy decision. It is something I have been thinking about for some time.
‘Being with England you have to spend an incredible amount of time away and I could not do that any more. Now is the time to walk away and get some new blood in the team. I am looking forward to being able to give my wife and children more of my time.’
Marler first thought about giving up his international career before the tour to South Africa. When called up for an England training camp in Bristol he cited personal reasons and withdrew on Sunday.
Despite only being informed yesterday it is understood staff at Quins were not surprised. Sources have told Sportsmail they are convinced Marler would not answer an SOS call from Jones if there is a spate of injuries before the World Cup. England coach Jones said yesterday: ‘Joe is a great player and team member so I am disappointed and we will miss him. But he has made his decision on personal grounds and we understand his reasoning. ‘He’s a good guy — an honest, mature person who understands the demands of the game and the demands of family life. I have got to admire his honesty and the way he has gone about this.’ England now have yet another selection headache. Exeter’s Ben Moon and Alec Hepburn will be early contenders to replace Marler.