host and paranormal investigator .
Former England prop Joe Marler has lifted the lid on a terrifying condition that leaves him frozen in fear — and it’s something that’s plagued him for years.
The Harlequins hardman made the chilling admission during an episode of his Things People Do podcast, where he was joined by BBC Uncanny
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powered by ISUZU. Robins, 49, has made his career by delving into real-life encounters with the supernatural. And while Marler, 34, has long labelled himself a sceptic when it comes to ghosts, he revealed one recurring and unnerving experience that has shaken him to his core.
“I am intrigued to know if some of the stuff I have experienced is due to a ghost or if there is an explanation,” Marler said.
“I always have this recurring moment that there is this figure in my doorway and it is not me or one of the four kids.
“It is bigger, a figure in the doorway. It is like I can feel him staring at me and I am s***ing myself and I can't move.
“I am paralysed and screaming at the top of my voice 'f*** off get out of here what do you want'.
“I want to reach for my baseball bat but I can't and then that happens so many times but there is this perverse thing in me that kind of enjoys it.”
It’s a terrifying ordeal for anyone — let alone a 6ft international rugby veteran — but Robins was quick to offer an explanation that didn’t involve ghosts or demons.
He told Marler he was likely experiencing sleep paralysis, a phenomenon that affects thousands of people and has long been mistaken for supernatural encounters.
“I can tell you what is happening here, it is called sleep paralysis and many people who think they have seen a ghost have just experienced this,” Robins explained.
“Basically your body locks you down so you don't act out your dreams.
“It paralyses you so you don't get up and jump out of a window.
“But sometimes it goes wrong and you are stuck in a state when you are awake and your body is locking you down and you are seeing sleep imagery in front of you.
“The classic is seeing a dark shadowy figure in your room and sometimes you hear people calling your name.
“But it is a weird state and it can be terrifying. Often you can feel this pressure on your chest and people often speak about feeling a demon or witch sitting on your chest.”
Chilling stuff — but thankfully for Marler, there’s a scientific explanation behind the night-time horror.
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“Goodbye Caterpillar ruck” – Three more rugby law changes for 2025
Rugby has always balanced tradition with evolution, but some of its laws may no longer serve the game as well as they once did.
As the sport becomes faster and more physical, a few rules stand out as needing change—not to disrupt the game’s spirit, but to enhance fairness and flow.
We highlight three specific laws that we believe could benefit from an update. These suggestions come from a place of respect for the game and a desire to see it continue to thrive.
World Rugby has made plenty of changes in recent years, and these ideas could be next.
1. Fewer Substitutions
Rugby has changed significantly over the years, and one of the biggest shifts is how the bench is used. These days, teams often bring on almost an entirely new forward pack late in the game. Big, fresh players crash into tired defenders, making the final 20 minutes less about skill and endurance, and more about brute force. Many fans and former players feel this has turned rugby into a collision sport rather than a contest of stamina and intelligence.
Reducing the number of substitutions would encourage players to pace themselves. Space would open up in the second half, creating more opportunities for creative play rather than endless phases of pick-and-go. It would reward fitness, smart decision-making, and those capable of performing for the full 80 minutes.
Fewer substitutions wouldn’t just make the game more exciting—it would make it fairer, safer, and more in line with the spirit of what rugby has always been about.
With the rise of 6–2 and even 7–1 bench splits, pioneered by Rassie Erasmus, the trend seems to be heading in the opposite direction. That’s all the more reason to act now.
2. Scrap the Caterpillar Ruck
The caterpillar ruck is one of those tactics that, while legal, just doesn’t sit right with many who love the game. It involves players lining up behind a ruck in a queue, giving the scrum-half extra time and space to kick.
It slows the game to a crawl, gives the defence no real chance to compete, and often feels more like a way to kill momentum than build it.
It may be clever, but it’s not entertaining. Fans want to see fast, hard-fought rugby—not box-kick after box-kick with a queue of bodies shielding the kicker. Eliminating or limiting the caterpillar ruck would speed up the game and reintroduce unpredictability at the breakdown.
This isn’t about removing strategy. It’s about keeping the game flowing and true to what makes rugby exciting: dynamic, contested play.
Referees have improved at calling “use it” earlier, which helps speed things up, but more needs to be done. Getting rid of the caterpillar ruck would go a long way toward fixing the issue.
3. Remove the 20-Minute Red Card
The 20-minute red card was introduced as a middle ground—punishing dangerous play without completely ruining a match. But let’s be honest: it sends the wrong message. If a player commits a reckless or dangerous act, 20 minutes off the field doesn’t always feel like enough—especially for serious offenses, like a high tackle that could end an opponent’s game or season.
Rugby has made major strides in protecting players, especially around the head and neck. Keeping the full red card—where the offending team plays a man down for the rest of the match—reaffirms that commitment. It makes the consequences clear: cross the line, and your team suffers. That’s how you change behaviour.
Yes, it’s tough. Sometimes it may seem harsh. But safety must come first. It’s about respecting the game and the long-term health of every player on the field.
In many ways, the 20-minute red gives officials a cop-out. It’s often seen as the easy option to avoid controversy—even when a full red card is justified.
