John Lewis Money presents: Joe Marler x England Rugby

• Impulsive power ballads - impromptu golf-cart-karaoke session as players croon to Natalie Imbruglia's classic "Torn"

• Hidden talents revealed - find out which England star reached grade eight on the trumpet 

• Horrific haircuts - Joe Marler and Henry Slade go head-to-head on historic haircuts 

As part of its ongoing partnership with England Rugby, John Lewis Money has today released a hilarious video featuring rugby legend Joe Marler and three of the men's elite England Rugby team, Marcus Smith, Henry Slade and Jack Kenningham. The candid footage captures the squad members’ playful banter, potential business ventures, surprising revelations, and a highly competitive round of the ‘Marler’s Mystery Box’ game - all while Joe drives the players to training in a golf cart.

The video, starring Celebrity Traitors finalist Joe Marler and filmed at Pennyhill Park, provides fans with a light hearted insight into the players’ personalities and life away from the pitch. Banter dominates, with Marcus Smith offering Joe a supersized rugby shirt at the start: "I’ve got a 4XL John Lewis Money top if you want. That's going to be big enough."

The mood quickly shifts from some questionable attempts at karaoke, complete with the four crooning to a rendition of Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn,” to an impromptu session of ‘Marler’s Mystery Box’. The players, blindfolded, attempt to guess objects including a fake snake, a kiwi, and even baked beans, leading to hilarious reactions and an intense points tally.  

Historic hairstyles feature, with Joe asking: “Sladey, I’m guessing if you had to speak to your younger self, you’d probably talk about all the barnets that you’ve had because they have been horrific.” Not holding back, Henry Slade quipped back: “Pot, kettle, mate! Look at the state of yours! You had sausage written on the side of your head once, didn’t you?!”

Beyond the games, the players share unexpected personal facts and their plans for life after rugby. Jack Kenningham reveals he reached grade eight on the trumpet, while Henry Slade shows an unexpected interest in pursuing gardening or landscaping once he retires.  Marcus Smith shared his future aspirations: “One of my dreams is to open a bar with my dad. That was my dad’s first job in Hong Kong - he worked on the doors outside a bar so I’d love to open a bar with my dad.”

Concluding the chat, the players offered valuable advice to their younger selves. The consensus was a shared call for perspective and enjoyment, with Jack Kenningham admitting: “For me it would definitely be to stress less. I’d struggle to sleep the night before. I’d put a lot of pressure on myself. If it was one thing, it would be to enjoy it more, relax and take it all in.”

Speaking about the filming, Joe Marler said: “We had a blast making this video. The Mystery Box challenge got pretty competitive, and it was brilliant to have a laugh with the lads off the pitch, especially when we were digging into Sladey’s old haircuts! Hopefully, the fans enjoy the banter and the peek behind the scenes as much as we did.”

The social media video underscores John Lewis Money's commitment to supporting the England Rugby team and aims to help fans connect with the personalities of some of its key players. 

John Lewis Money offers a range of financial products including the Partnership Credit Card. Customers can turn their shopping into rewards, earning points on eligible purchases using a John Lewis Partnership Credit Card to get gift vouchers to spend at John Lewis and Waitrose.

Notes to editors

video is available here, for further images please contact [email protected].

About the John Lewis Partnership

The John Lewis Partnership owns and operates two of Britain's best-loved retail brands - John Lewis and Waitrose. Started as a radical experiment over a century ago, the Partnership is now the largest employee-owned business in the UK. The Partnership is purpose-driven, existing to create a fairer and more sustainable future for our Partners, customers, suppliers and communities. Our Purpose not only inspires our principles, drives our decisions and acts as our guide to be a force for good, it steers us to do things differently and better - all in service of creating a happier world for everyone and everything we touch.

John Lewis operates 34 shops across the UK as well as johnlewis.com. Waitrose has 315 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 47 convenience branches, and another 29 shops at Welcome Break locations. The retailer's omnichannel business includes the online grocery service, Waitrose.com, and specialist online shops including waitrosecellar.com for wine.

About the Rugby Football Union (RFU)

The RFU is the national governing body for rugby union in England. The organisation aims to enrichlives, introduce more people to rugby union and develop the sport for future generations. The goal isto achieve this by strengthening and uniting rugby union in England and producing consistentlywinning England teams.

The RFU is a members’ organisation of professional and amateur rugby clubs, referee societies andConstituent Bodies (geographic or national unions of clubs) that reinvests all profits back into thesport.