Joe Marler has been branded a “moron” by his wife for calling an opponent’s sick mother a “f------ wh—”.
The England prop received a two-week ban, with a further four suspended, for the offensive remark aimed at Bristol prop Jake Heenan during a Premiership game last month. Marler insisted he had “absolutely no idea” Heenan’s mum was in hospital, admitted “I’ve f----- it all up again” and described himself as a “bit of a helmet”.
He then revealed wife Daisy had refused to defend his behaviour - and that he had no comeback to her disapproval of the comment which sparked a mass brawl on the pitch.
“She turned round to me after and she was like, ‘F------ hell, you’re an idiot, aren’t you? You’re just a moron’,” Marler admitted on his own podcast.
“I went, ‘What do you mean? I thought you’re meant to defend me’. And she went, ‘Why am I defending you? That’s not even a funny attempt. It’s s---’. And I went, ‘Yeah, you’re right, it is s—’.
“And then when I said, ‘Apparently, his mum’s in hospital’, she went, ‘F------ hell. Why don’t you just stop doing it? Or, if you feel the need to do it, just don’t bring family members into it.
“You never know what’s going on in people’s lives and just because it doesn’t affect you on the pitch doesn’t mean it’s not going to affect other people. Just f------ get on with it’.
“And I was sitting there like, ‘Oh my God, that naughty schoolboy at the back of the thing’. And I went, ‘Yeah, I know you’re right. You’re absolutely spot on’.”
This chapter comes six years after Marler was handed a two-week suspension and fined £20,000 for calling Wales prop Samson Lee “gypsy boy”.
Two years ago he received a 10-week ban for grabbing Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones’ genitals during a Six Nations game.
Marler apologised again to Heenan and also to his team-mates and club before turning the focus on himself and asking: “At what point do you go, ‘Yeah, you can say sorry, mate, but just stop f------ doing it? I guess this is the point, isn’t it?”
With the 32-year old claiming that such sledging is “the norm”, Quins boss Tabai Matson believes it is essential rugby chiefs now draw a clear line between that and acceptable banter.
Matson said: “Clearly Joe was out of line and he’s been reprimanded for it, but there now should be something from above saying ‘actually this type of language isn’t appropriate' because otherwise we get the grey: is that sledging, is that banter, is that whatever?
“Clearly some people will be having a discussion about what is the line and let’s try and make that clearer."
