Joe Marler confirms he's coming out of rugby retirement

The former prop called time on his career in November 2024, having won almost 100 caps for England and made close to 300 appearances for Harlequins.

Since stepping away from the sport, he has established himself as a media personality and taken on several high-profile television roles.

In May 2025, Marler was announced as a contestant for the first series of The Celebrity Traitors. He reached the final alongside fellow Faithfuls Nick Mohammed and David Olusoga, as well as Traitors Alan Carr and Cat Burns.

However, Marler was eventually voted out by his fellow Faithfuls. During the final, he said: "Being in The Traitors final is way more stressful than playing for England".

His television career has continued to grow, with the 36-year-old recently confirmed as the first celebrity Gladiator on the BBC's popular entertainment show. Competing under the name Mauler, he will take on contenders when the fourth series of Gladiators begins in 2027.

Before then, though, Marler will pull on his boots once again for the upcoming 745 Game.

The charity fixture will see a team of rugby league legends take on a side made up of rugby union greats, with modified rules combining elements of both codes. The match is being staged to raise money and awareness in the fight against motor neurone disease.

Welford Road will host the event, bringing one of rugby's most inspiring occasions to the home of Leicester Tigers.

The name 745 pays tribute to three men who bravely fought MND and the shirt numbers they wore during their rugby careers: 7 for Rob Burrow, 4 for Ed Slater and 5 for Doddie Weir.

Three charities will benefit from the fixture: the 4ED Foundation, the Rob Burrow Discretionary Trust and My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.

Slater remains a hugely respected figure at Leicester Tigers, having captained the club between 2014 and 2016. The Tigers also contest the Slater Cup with Gloucester, helping to raise money for 4ED, the charity established in his name.

The match itself was originally an idea developed by Burrow and Slater before Burrow's death in June 2024 at the age of 41.

Marler will represent the rugby union side and is set to be joined by several familiar names from the game, including Ben Youngs, Billy Twelvetrees, Mike Tindall and Alex Waller.

From legendary fly-halves with metronomic boots to all-time greats who dominated international rugby for more than a decade, these players have piled up points on the sport’s biggest stages.

You have three minutes to name the top 10 highest points scorers in men’s international rugby union history. How many can you get?