Joe Marchant is embracing his return to the Premiership with Sale Sharks, even if he jokes that he has struggled to meet the high expectations set by his new teammates. After a three-year stint in Paris playing for Stade Français, the 30-year-old centre has found that his off-field life has also shifted significantly, having married into the family of former England captain Alan Shearer. While his teammates might tease him about his football skills during training, Marchant is focused on bringing his international experience to Alex Sanderson’s squad.
Reflecting on his time in the Top 14, Marchant believes the experience was transformative for both his professional game and his personal confidence. He admits that navigating a foreign league required him to shed any natural reserve. “A big one is my communication because obviously there was a language barrier there and you can’t be shy,” he says. He emphasizes that he had to be comfortable making mistakes and communicating clearly on the pitch to ensure there was no need for internal translation during high-pressure match scenarios. His willingness to integrate into the Parisian lifestyle and learn French impressed his teammates, and he notes that this proactive approach was essential to his development.
Marchant’s career path has been unique, including a period in 2020 with the Blues in Auckland. He highlights that the variety of playing styles across New Zealand, France, and England has provided a well-rounded skill set. Comparing the environments, he observes that the speed of the game in New Zealand stood out, whereas the Top 14 is defined by its immense physical intensity and the size of the players. This breadth of experience is something Steve Borthwick is likely to value, as the England head coach looks to bolster his squad.
The move to France was prompted by a difficult period in late 2022, when then-coach Eddie Jones indicated that Marchant was not part of his plans for the 2023 World Cup. The subsequent offer from Stade Français felt like the right professional decision at the time. However, the coaching landscape shifted quickly when Jones was sacked shortly after. A candid, positive conversation with Borthwick before the 2023 Six Nations helped recalibrate his international future. The two have maintained regular contact since the World Cup, providing Marchant with the clarity he needs to perform.
“I want to play for England,” Marchant asserts, noting his pride in his 28 previous appearances. “I’m proud to have played for England and I don’t want it to be my last time at that World Cup, I want to play again.” He recognizes the challenge of competing with Premiership-based players after three years abroad, but he remains committed to the goal. While his current focus is on settling in at Sale Sharks, his ambition to represent his country again remains a driving force in his career as he looks to prove his worth back on home soil. The report also notes that significant developments over the summer gave rise to lofty expectations among his new Sale Sharks teammates but the 30-year-old centre knows he has not lived up to them. “When we’re playing here, people expect me to be good,” he says. “Why would it make me good in any way. The report also notes that in every other department, Marchant has done nothing but impress in his new surroundings. The report also notes that as we will soon discover, Marchant’s spell in France might never have happened had Borthwick been appointed a month or two earlier but he regrets nothing about his time in Paris and it does not take long in his company to see how much he has benefited from it. The report also notes that he is always perfectly polite but some of Marchant’s media appearances during England’s 2023 World Cup campaign could be filed under forgettable. The report also notes that effectively “my ball,” into “Joe’s”, but that demonstrates the level to which Marchant threw himself into the Top 14 and the Parisian lifestyle, he has been getting stick for slipping into French during training sessions and styling out a call of “J’ai”. The report also notes that marchant’s aerial ability was valued by Borthwick to the extent he often appeared on the wing but in Sanderson’s eyes it is his communication as a defensive coordinator that sets him apart. The report also notes that i am literally seeing something and I am able to communicate it.
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