Harlequins
Toy snake floors England's Joe Marler but he avoids World Cup setback
PA Sport
June 2, 2015
Joe Marler in action
Joe Marler in action© REMY GABALDA/AFP/Getty Images

A tumble on a toy snake that landed a pile of dirty nappies on Joe Marler's face nearly handed the England prop a World Cup setback.

Harlequins prop Marler revealed he added an extra week's rehabilitation to his shoulder problem after falling down the stairs at home this week. The 24-year-old front-rower suffered a torn labrum in April, immediately undergoing surgery to return in time for England's summer training camps.

Marler expects to return to full training before the end of July, allowing full part in England's August World Cup warm-up programme - no thanks to his midweek trip down the stairs.

"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'," said Marler. "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."

© PA Sport

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