Only one rugby player ever scared Joe Marler - the guy was scary on the pitch

The larger-than-life Harlequins prop – famous for his scrummaging strength and razor-sharp humour – bows out after 95 England caps, three Six Nations titles and over 200 appearances for Quins.

A two-time Premiership champion and Challenge Cup winner, Marler signs off at The Stoop against Bristol Bears – but not before naming the rivals who pushed him to his limits.

Major teams: Barbarians, Highlanders, Newcastle Falcons, Toulon, New Zealand, New Zealand Maori
Position: Prop
Caps: 45

MARLER SAID: “I played against him when he was at Newcastle, and he basically would knock s**t outta ya for 80 minutes. It was like playing against a prop with the fitness levels of a flanker.”

BIO: One of the most dominant tighthead props of his era, Carl Hayman combined brutal scrummaging power with surprising mobility around the pitch. After a stellar career with the Highlanders and Newcastle Falcons, he became a cornerstone of Toulon’s European dominance, winning three Champions Cups.

DID YOU KNOW? Hayman was once the highest-paid rugby player in the world during his time at Toulon.

Major teams: Barbarians, British and Irish Lions, Ireland A, Munster, Ulster, Ireland
Position: Hooker
Caps: 124

MARLER SAID: "Best is hard as nails and a great thrower at the line, plus great in the loose. He was pretty underrated in my opinion."

BIO: A true leader on and off the field, Rory Best captained Ireland to some of their greatest modern-day achievements, including a Grand Slam in 2018 and their first-ever win over New Zealand in 2016. Known for his durability and work ethic, he became the cornerstone of Ireland's pack for over a decade.

DID YOU KNOW? Best is Ireland's most-capped forward and only the second hooker to reach 100 caps for the nation.

Major teams: Leinster, British and Irish Lions, Ireland
Position: Tighthead Prop
Caps: 77

MARLER SAID: "His recent performances reminded everyone why he is rated as one of the best tightheads in world rugby."

BIO: Known as the ‘Jukebox’ because he gets everyone dancing, Tadhg Furlong is a generational tighthead prop who blends old-school scrummaging power with silky ball-handling skills. A two-time British and Irish Lion and a cornerstone of Leinster's pack, Furlong is a modern-day legend of Irish rugby.

DID YOU KNOW? Furlong played Gaelic football in his youth and is known for his quick wit and love of traditional Irish music.

Major teams: Blues, Highlanders, North Harbour, New Zealand
Position: Prop
Caps: 118

MARLER SAID: "I think he was a farmer. He epitomised those earthy, no-nonsense values on the rugby field, getting on with the job. The player I looked up to most early in my career."

BIO: A legendary loosehead prop, Tony Woodcock was a key part of New Zealand's dominant All Blacks era, playing in two Rugby World Cup Finals. Known for his no-nonsense attitude, exceptional scrummaging, and endurance, he remains one of the most respected forwards in rugby history.

DID YOU KNOW? Woodcock famously scored the only try in New Zealand's narrow 8-7 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final.