Marler will play against England

JOE MARLER will play against England next month after accepting an invitation to represent the Barbarians in their traditional end-of-season encounter at Twickenham. With the World Cup beckoning, his appearance will come at a time of speculation about whether he might reverse his decision to retire from Tests. Mako Vunipola’s serious hamstring injury, which will keep the country’s leading loosehead out for three months, has led to suggestions that Marler is in contention for a shock recall and that he might consider it. The 28-year-old Harlequins prop retired from international rugby last year after winning 59 caps for his country since a Test debut in 2012. Marler has been in supreme form for his club and Barbarians head coach Pat Lam approached him to gauge his interest in a maiden appearance for the famous invitational team. There had been a delay in the process due to uncertainty about whether Quins would request a fee for their player’s services — and also because Marler’s wife Daisy is expecting their third child days after he is due to face England. However, Sportsmail understands an agreement was reached yesterday. it is not thought England head coach Eddie Jones is considering asking the former Lion whether he would consider a return and Marler is not thought to be interested in committing himself at this stage. Jones is not even on duty for the BaaBaas match on Sunday week. Meanwhile, former England captain Dylan Hartley must stake his claim for a place in the World Cup squad without having played since mid-December, after he was ruled out of Northampton’s play-off semi-final against Exeter on Saturday. Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd has revealed the 33-year-old hooker has not recovered from his knee injury in time for the trip to Sandy Park. Danny Cipriani last night became only the second man to win both main Player of the Year prizes in the same season — a feat Jimmy Gopperth of Wasps achieved in 2017. Cipriani was presented with the Premiership prize at a ceremony in London, having recently claimed the rPa gong. The 31-year-old Gloucester fly-half’s achievement caps a sensational campaign for his new club. Sale’s England flanker Tom Curry won the young player prize and Mark McCall of Saracens took the director of rugby award.