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Joe Marler set to start in his final ever match of professional rugby
By Josh Raisey
Joe Marler has been named to start for Harlequins on Friday against the Bristol Bears in what will be his final game of professional rugby after announcing his retirement on Wednesday.
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The 34-year-old will pull on the Quins quarters for a 286th and final time at home at the Stoop against a side placed two places ahead of them in the Gallagher Premiership in third.
Marler started the month in camp with England, but announced his retirement from Test rugby before their first match of the Autumn Nations Series against the All Blacks.
The prop is joined by one member of the England squad over the past month, captain Alex Dombrandt, who featured from the bench in England’s losses to the All Blacks, Australia and South Africa.
Bristol, meanwhile, have rested their England internationals for the trip to southwest London.
Harlequins XV
15. Tyrone Green (79)
14. Rodrigo Isgro (2)
13. Oscar Beard (61)
12. Luke Northmore (71)
11. Cadan Murley (117)
10. Jarrod Evans (22)
9. Will Porter (28)
1. Joe Marler (285)
2. Jack Walker (70)
3. Simon Kerrod (109)
4. Irne Herbst (54)
5. Dino Lamb (98)
6. Jack Kenningham (56)
7. Will Evans (96)
8. Alex Dombrandt (C) (141)
Replacements
16. Nathan Jibulu (21)
17. Fin Baxter (56)
18. Titi Lamostiele (6)
19. Joe Launchbury (27)
20. James Chisholm (155)
21. Danny Care (381)
22. Jamie Benson (11)
23. Nick David (56)
Bristol XV
15. Rich Lane (42)
14. Jack Bates (42)
13. Kalaveti Ravouvou (12)
12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (31)
11. Gabriel Ibitoye (48)
10. AJ MacGinty (43)
9. Kieran Marmion (32)
1. Jake Woolmore (157)
2. Gabriel Oghre (24)
3. Max Lahiff (94)
4. James Dun (40)
5. Joe Owen (19)
6. Santiago Grondona (3)
7. Fitz Harding (c) (79)
8. Viliame Mata (debut)
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Replacements
16. Harry Thacker (119)
17. Yann Thomas (117)
18. Lovejoy Chawatama (3)
19. Steven Luatua (135)
20. Benjamin Grondona (10)
21. Oscar Lennon (11)
22. Joe Jenkins (18)
23. Benjamin Elizalde (5)
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We can only hope.