Joe Marler: I still suffer from mental health issues after the tour

Former England prop Joe Marler says the ups and downs of being a Test rugby player continued to affect his mental health in the lead up to his retirement last month.

The 34-year-old ended his Test career before the start of autumn internationals, having initially been included in England’s squad for the matches.

He played a final, farewell game for Harlequins on Friday before leaving the game altogether.

“How many times have I had less points? Still have a lot of points,” Marler told the For the Love of Rugby podcast., external

“After the tour, after the campaign, there’s a natural calmness when you get used to the schedule put in front of you, you know where you’re going, what you’re wearing and you’re surrounded by lads all the time. Are.

“You go back and you’ve missed your family and you love them so much, but you don’t really know where you fit in.

“Before (this summer’s) Japan and New Zealand tour, I was trying to go into this new therapy and deal with some of the things that happened in the past and some of the things that were happening at the time.

“I was into it and had a good rhythm to it. I went in, I felt good and I had different tools to help me deal with my times.

“Then I came home and it was summer holidays and I wanted to spend as much time as possible with the kids and family.

“The therapist was texting me to try to get another appointment, but I was feeling really good and I thought I’d make it. But that’s when you want to be engrossed in what’s going on.” Together you are struggling to stay on top.

“I’m still trying to get out of that old mentality of ‘I feel good so I don’t need any help’.”

Marler spoke regularly about his mental health during his career, describing crying on the way to training, destroying his kitchen in anger, and taking anti-depressants., external