Joe Marler: I still suffered from post-tour mental health blues
Former England player Joe Marler says the ups and downs of being a Test rugby player affected his mental health until his retirement last month.
The 34-year-old announced the end of his Test career ahead of the autumn internationals, having initially been included in the England squad.
He played his final farewell game for Harlequins on Friday before withdrawing from the game entirely.
“How many times have I had low points? Still quite a few,” Mahler told the For the Love of Rugby podcast., external
“After the tour, after the campaign, when you get used to the schedule in front of you and you know where you’re going, what you’re wearing and being surrounded by boys all the time, you naturally calm down.
“You go back and you miss your family and you love them so much but you don’t really know where you fit in.
“Before touring Japan and New Zealand[this summer]I was sticking with this new regimen and trying to process some of the things that had happened in the past and some of the things that were going on at the time.
“I was involved and had a good rhythm. I left feeling good and having different tools to help me handle my time there.
“Then I came home and it was summer break and I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my kids and my family.
“The therapist was texting me and trying to schedule another appointment, but I was feeling really good and thought I would stick with it. But that’s when you want to keep digging into the issues you’re struggling with to stay ahead of it.
“I’m still trying to get rid of that old-school mentality of ‘I feel fine, so I don’t need any help.'”
Mahler often spoke about his mental health during his career, describing crying during training sessions, Angrily destroying his kitchen and taking antidepressants., external
