Joe Marler marked his last ever professional rugby appearance with a humorous question to the referee mid-match for Harlequins.
The 34-year-old prop announced his shock retirement on Wednesday after calling time on his career with England for ‘personal reasons’.
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Marler showed his funny side with a question for the refereeCredit: @rugbyontnt X
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Pearce joked that he wouldn’t give him a yellow card if he took his shirt offCredit: @rugbyontnt X
Marler, who earned 95 caps for the Red Roses, bowed out on Friday night as Harlequins lost 24-48 at home to Bristol Bears.
With Harlequins leading towards the end of the first half, he had a quick question to ask during his last Gallagher Premiership clash.
“Question, if someone scores [a try] and they take their shirt off, is it a yellow card?” he said to referee Luke Pearce.
With the occasion seemingly in his mind, Pearce jokingly replied: “Not tonight for you, no.”
Marler was substituted with 49 minutes on the clock and therefore took his final steps on a rugby pitch as he made his way off.
The crowd at Twickenham Stoop gave him a deserved send-off as they offered a standing ovation before he headed down the tunnel.
When asked by TNT Sports afterwards about why he decided to retire, he said: “There’s loads of reasons.
“I couldn’t do it anymore, physically, mentally, emotionally. After the England announcement, this was inevitable, really.
“I’d much rather go out now rather than trying to flog a dead horse for the next six months.”
He then joked: “I actually went out last week! I quit last week and they said, ‘Can you come back for one more game? Because Fin [Baxter] needs a rest.”
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England legend Marler has played his last ever professional rugby matchCredit: Getty
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He was given a worthy send-off by his fans, teammates and opponents at HarlequinsCredit: Getty
“I went, ‘Yeah, I’ll come back and say goodbye to the fans and that lot.’ But that’s what it’s come to.”
Harlequins’ latest outing was Marler’s 286th and final appearance for the club, with whom he won two Premiership titles in 2012 and 2021.
At international level, he won the Six Nations three times with England and was part of their 2019 World Cup runners-up squad.
Marler is yet to reveal his next steps, but he could certainly make his way back to the talkSPORT studio having recently caused rapturous laughter from Ally McCoist.
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