After Joe's April Fool joke yesterday we get the best possible news:
Harlequins announced today (April 2nd) that England prop, Joe Marler, has committed his future to the London club until at least 2016.
Since becoming a senior squad member in 2010 after graduating from the club's prestigious Academy, Marler's career has rapidly progressed and he has now become one of the most powerful front row players in the northern hemisphere.
The charismatic 23 year-old, who makes his 100th senior appearance on Friday, against Stade Francais, played an integral role in the Amlin Challenge Cup and Aviva Premiership successes in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Gaining international honours at every age grade level, the prop now has 19 senior England caps to his name since making his debut during the 2012 summer tour to South Africa.
Most recently, Joe helped England to their first Triple Crown title in ten years, starting in all but one of the Six Nations matches due to the recent birth of his first child.
Commenting on the re-signing, Harlequins Director of Rugby, Conor O'Shea said "We are obviously delighted that Joe has committed his future to Harlequins. It is incredible to think that at just 23, he will make his 100th senior appearance this Friday.
"He is, and will continue to be, a corner stone in the pack and in the success of this club. Joe is developing into one of the leading loose heads in international rugby.
"Joe still has so much more to give and like us all, is hungry for more silverware for both club and country. I am really excited, as I'm sure the Harlequins supporters will be, to see Joe's continuing development in the coming years in a quartered jersey.”
Joe Marler added, "I am really happy to have signed on again with my childhood club, Harlequins. When I was given the opportunity to re-sign for the club, there was never any doubt in my mind that this is where I wanted my long term future to be.”
Joe Marler commits his future to Harlequins
Posted by: ComeAllWithin.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 02/04/2014 13:27
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A two year deal for Joe sees him through RWC2015, by which point he could be a 45-cap international and will have had two chances to win 6N silverware and a shot at the RWC.
He could be a much more valuable property by then, so it's sensible for him to negotiate a 2 year deal as long as he's confident of his fitness.
That said, Quins have 3 years deals in place with several of the key players - I think CR and MB are on 3 years, and a few others besides. Did they offer Joe 3 years, and he argued them down to 2, or did they only offer 2, I wonder?
I imagine he argued them down to 2, we aren't going to get a better LH than Marler because in 2 years there won't be one and I've no problem with players being sensible and allowing for a better contract in the future
RodneyRegis Joe is significantly younger than the others mentioned above, and likely to increase in value more than the others.
What Banahan has to do with the price of fish I don't know.
I thought we were talking about the length of players contracts??
Sure, but Banahan is rubbish...his contract is extremely rare, he's unlikely to ever be worth more money than he was at the time of signing and realises that nobody else is likely to want him. He plays in a totally different position and is a lot older than Joe.
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