Eddie Jones insists he '100 per cent' supports Joe Marler
Eddie Jones insists he ‘100 per cent’ supports Joe Marler’s decision to withdraw from England’s Six Nations squad for ‘personal reasons’ and prop will remain in his long-term plans
- Joe Marler pulled out of England’s Six Nations squad this week
- He decided not to enter bio-secure bubble to stay with his family
- Eddie Jones says he will welcome him back with open arms when he returns
Eddie Jones has supported Joe Marler’s decision to pull out of the Six Nations and insists the prop will remain in England’s long-term plans.
Marler, who ‘retired’ from England duty before the 2019 World Cup, pulled out of the squad on Monday to spend time with his family.
The 30-year-old is England’s strongest scrummaging option and Jones said he will welcome back the forward with open arms.
England boss Eddie Jones (left) says he remains ‘100 per cent’ in support of Joe Marler (right)
‘Joe has been an outstanding player during my time with England – and I’m sure he was outstanding before that,’ said Jones.
‘He is tough, abrasive, a good defender, a great guy off the field; a bit nutty, but we like that. It’s good to have characters like that in the squad.
‘This is a situation where he has made the decision that we 100 per cent support and when he decides to make himself available again we will have a look at selection again. And that’s how we look at it – 100 per cent. No ifs or buts, it’s as clear as a day.’
England meet at St George’s Park on Wednesday, however Jones’s arrival has been delayed because he is in self-isolation.
‘I’m in my last day of isolation, day nine and a half… I break prison at 1pm tomorrow and will be racing up the road to St George’s and join the squad about 4pm,’ said Jones.
‘Today was always going to be an orientation day where the players come in and do all the medical checks, get a little bit of information from the coaches but it really hasn’t affected our preparation at all.’
England prop Marler has withdrawn from the Six Nations squad for ‘personal reasons’
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