Joe Marler on course for World Cup despite toy snake fall

Harlequins prop Joe Marler says his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury is generally going well, despite a toy snake-related tumble at home which has set him back by a week.

The 24-year-old suffered a torn labrum in April and immediately had an operation so he would be ready for England’s summer training camps.

Marler plans to return to full training before the end of July and will be able to play a full part in England’s pre-World Cup programme in August.

However, his World Cup hopes almost met with a somewhat embarrassing recent setback.

Marler said: “The missus had a headache and was struggling, so I went to get the dirty nappy bin and the dirty washing.

“I had the toothbrush in my mouth, and I thought, 'I can make it downstairs here, I'll be fine'.

"My son actually likes chucking things over the stair gate so, on the second step down, I fell on his toy snake and went straight down the stairs, head to bottom, and I'm gone.

"I've got dirty nappies all over my face, with the missus screaming, 'What's the matter? What's the matter?' I said 'Nothing, don't come down here, it's really embarrassing!'

"My shoulder is fine. That's put me back a week but the rehab is going well other than that."

I've got dirty nappies all over my face, with the missus screaming, 'What's the matter? What's the matter?'

One man who has been dropped from the World Cup squad is Dylan Hartley, who was jettisoned after he was given a four-week ban for head-butting Jamie George of Saracens.

And Marler admitted that he has struggled with the ‘red mist’ at times himself.

He said: "Obviously. Dylan will be disappointed to miss out on such a huge opportunity for any player.

"He's missed out on some big things in the past and this will be another tough pill to swallow for him. I'm sure Dylan will be as disappointed as everyone else is for him.

"From a personal point of view, it took me a while to get a grip of the monkey in my head, that red mist that descends.

"The biggest lesson is realising it's the team-mates you're letting down in that game, and then the following games when you're not available.

"It was actually Olly Kohn who played for Quins, the nicest guy going, friends with everyone, who had never said a bad word, who turned round one week and said 'mate, you're letting the boys down'.

"That's when it started to hit home. Whatever ego or red mist I have, I've got to get a lid on it and crack on with my job.

"Rugby's not about egos, personal battles or cheap digs. It's about imposing yourself physically for sure, but you can do that by tackling someone, by ending a ruck, or in a scrum.

"It took me a while to learn that, and it's each individual's responsibility to get a grip on that."