LONDON — Just a month after announcing his departure from international rugby, Joe Marler, the former England prop, has shifted his retirement timeline and will completely leave the sport this week.

Marler is set to make his final appearance for Harlequins, a club he has been a part of since 2009, in a match against Bristol in the English league on Friday.

The 34-year-old player initially suggested that he would continue playing at the club level until the season concluded. Over his tenure, Marler has recorded 285 matches with Harlequins and leaves the game with two English league winners medals to his name.

“It’s time to step off the rollercoaster and say goodbye to this beautifully brutal sport,” he remarked on Wednesday.

Marler declared the end of his 95-cap international career on November 3, shortly after departing England’s training camp prior to the November internationals due to personal issues. In the lead-up to England’s first autumn test match, he stirred controversy by critiquing the New Zealand Haka, calling it “ridiculous” and suggesting it should be “binned.” He later expressed regret for those remarks.

As Marler concludes his rugby journey, he leaves behind a legacy marked by both his accomplishments on the field and his vibrant personality. Fans and players alike will remember him for his contributions to the sport and for the engaging presence he brought to the game.