Joe Marler, the former England rugby international, has opened up about his past struggles with painkiller use and mental health challenges in his new book, shedding light on issues often overlooked within professional sports. Drawing on his 15-year career with Harlequins and his 95-cap tenure for England, Marler candidly discusses the pressures that led him to self-medicate and the importance of seeking support.
Marler describes how the physical demands of rugby, combined with a personal drive to remain constantly fit and on the field, resulted in a reliance on painkillers. “I was like, this is such an easy one for me to just pop in and, right, I can go again,” he said, referring to what he called a “flirt” with addiction. He acknowledged that while his medication use never escalated fully into dependency, it came dangerously close. Marler credits the intervention and support of backroom staff, teammates, and family for helping him avoid deeper addiction.
His forthcoming book, *Joe Marler vs The World*, continues the themes first addressed in his 2018 memoir *Loose Head*, in which he revealed battles with mental health, including periods of depression and use of antidepressants. Marler has since become an advocate for mental health awareness in sports, serving as an ambassador for the suicide prevention charity CALM.
In his latest work, Marler combines frank discussion of suicidal thoughts with touches of humor, aiming to break down stigmas that often surround these topics. He explained that maintaining a lighter tone can make it easier for individuals to engage with difficult conversations. “Until we get to a point where suicide isn’t the biggest killer in men under 40, then it still needs to be spoken about,” he said.
Marler retired from professional rugby in 2024 and has since expanded his public profile. He gained a broader audience through his podcasting and notably as a popular contestant on the 2025 television series *The Celebrity Traitors*, watched by an audience of 15 million. He credits this exposure with altering public perceptions of him, noting that his fan base now includes diverse groups, such as teenagers and older women, rather than primarily middle-aged men.
Looking ahead, Marler is involved in several new media projects, including a BBC show with comedian Joe Wilkinson and a role in the 2027 revival of *Gladiators*. Reflecting on his rugby career, he acknowledged being labeled a “character,” a term he says often served as a euphemism for being difficult or disruptive. Marler criticized the rugby culture for discouraging individual expression, observing that the sport traditionally favors conformity over standout personalities. He argued that this attitude is outdated and that fans are increasingly interested in understanding the players as complex individuals beyond their on-field roles.
Marler’s openness about his experiences with pain, addiction, and mental health underscores a broader conversation about athlete welfare and the importance of support systems within competitive sports. His advocacy aims to encourage others facing similar struggles to seek help and embrace openness.