Former Harlequins and England star Joe Marler is a BBC Celebrity Traitors finalist. His unique personality and razor-sharp wit have gained him a plethora of new fans as he looks to take home the coveted title.
Now a Traitors favourite, here are 10 things you may not have known about the 35-year-old former rugby player.
1 Joe Marler, Podcast Guru
Joe started a podcast during his playing days. Originally launched as “The Joe Marler Show,” the podcast was later rebranded to reflect what it truly was: a show that wasn’t really about Joe at all.
Instead, it focused on ordinary people doing extraordinary things, which inspired the new name, “Things People Do.” From deep dives into American politics to the all-important debate over whether the Victoria Sponge is the most boring cake ever baked, every episode was fuelled by Joe’s trademark dry wit and offbeat charm.
2 Joe Marler, OnlyFans Star
It might sound like a joke, and it was – in a sense – but Marler really did launch a free OnlyFans account dedicated entirely to his feet. Aptly titled @JoseMalaTrotters, the account even came with its own tongue-in-cheek promotional video.
In it, Marler leans into a mock-seductive tone, saying: “Hey you, yeah you. I’ve seen the way you’re looking at my feet. 9/10 certified by a foot health specialist. Want to get your hands on these trotters? Well, now you can. Head over to @JoseMalaTrotters on OnlyFans.”
3 Joe Marler, Wind-up Merchant
Whether he was tickling the nether regions of Alun Wyn Jones’ crotch or getting strangled by James Haskell, Marler was no stranger to confrontation. He was just as comfortable using his 120 kg frame as he was his words, doing everything he could to get under his opposition’s skin. Often, fans would hear Joe’s voice being picked up on the referee’s microphone as he found yet another way to put his opposition off their game.
4 Joe Marler, Retirement King
Some players retire from rugby only to realise they still crave the grind of the game. Jason Robinson, for example, walked away from international rugby before returning two years later to feature in the 2007 World Cup. More recently, Nic White announced his retirement, only to find himself back in Wallaby gold a week later. Marler, though, took that cycle to another level, retiring and unretiring so many times that few believed him when he finally called it a day for good.
5 Joe Marler, Brisket Sandwich Eater
The giant prop eats equally giant sandwiches. In a video shared by England Rugby, Marler admitted that his favourite lunchtime sandwich was, in fact, a brisket. Yes, that’s correct, the cut of beef from the lower chest or breast of a cow. Known for being tough but becoming tender with slow, low-temperature cooking methods like smoking, pot roasting, or braising. Marler’s favourite choice of filling was created by the England Rugby chef, resulting in the giant concoction below.
Joe Marler’s Beef Brisket Sandwich. Credit: England Rugby
England team: Steve Borthwick benches Maro Itoje amid NINE changes as centre experiment shelved
6 Joe Marler, Interview Joker
Always willing to provide humour in interviews, some of Marler’s most memorable moments have come in front of the microphone. From his early days on the Harlequins training pitch alongside Danny Care to his memorable player of the match interview in the 2021 Premiership play-offs, he always kept the interviewers on their toes.
7 Joe Marler, Mental Health Advocate
As a typically bruising prop forward, Marler portrays an ‘alpha male’ type energy, but he’s used this platform to show that even the most masculine of men struggle with mental health, and that it’s okay to talk about it. He’s often opened up about his struggles, which include self-sabotage, toxic masculinity and the pressures that men deal with daily. It’s not a subject that he shies away from, and many people have credited Joe with helping them through their own mental health challenges.
8 Joe Marler, Author
In 2020, Joe Marler released his book ‘Loose Head: Confessions of an (Un)Professional Rugby Player’, which was an unfiltered look at life inside the sport. In it, Marler opens up about the wild, honest, and often hilarious realities of rugby, from the infamous naked wrestling traditions to his journey from a fiery young lad nicknamed ‘psycho’, to representing England in the 2019 World Cup final in Japan. The book was a huge hit with readers, earning nearly 3,500 reviews on Amazon and an impressive average rating of 4.6 out of 5.
9 Joe Marler, Padel Enthusiast
After retiring from rugby, Marler took up padel and has since become an ambassador for the sport, most recently spotted playing at a celebrity padel tournament in London alongside fellow rugby stars Care and Fin Smith. Despite his giant size, Marler doesn’t struggle to get around the court and is still known to banter with his fellow players on the court.
10 Joe Marler, Intelligence
Many would be excused for underestimating the intelligence levels of a tattooed-up, Mohawk-haired, 120 kg front-row rugby player, but according to Care, Marler has a “hell of a rugby brain on him.” Speaking to Planet Rugby, Care said: “Normally, props when they start talking tactics, you stop listening, but Joe has a hell of a rugby brain on him. He gets the game of rugby.”
With all his extracurricular activities and social networking ventures, it’s hard to disagree that the Traitors star does have a first-class mind.
READ MORE: Springboks team: Rassie Erasmus opts for experience in Siya Kolisi’s 100th Test but continues hybrid experiment
