George Martin (rugby union)

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George Martin
Full nameGeorge Frederick Martin
Date of birth (2001-06-18) 18 June 2001 (age 22)
Place of birthNottingham, England
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight122 kg (269 lb; 19 st 3 lb)
SchoolLoughborough Grammar School
Brooksby Melton College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Current team Leicester Tigers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019– Leicester Tigers 64 (30)
2019–2020Leicester Lions (loan) 4 (0)
Correct as of 27 April 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2019 England U18 12 (5)
2021– England 9 (0)
Correct as of 28 August 2023

George Frederick Martin (born 18 June 2001) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers and the England national team.[1][2]

Early life[edit]

Martin attended Loughborough Grammar School in Leicestershire where he was selected for England's under-16 rugby union team.[3] He then attended Brooksby Melton College where he was selected for England's under-18 side.[4] He scored a try against France under-18 during their 2018 summer tour of South Africa[5] and in April 2019 captained at the under-18 Six Nations Festival.[6]

Martin was part of Leicester Tigers two successive under 18 league titles.[7][8]

Club career[edit]

In July 2019 Martin signed his first professional contract for Leicester Tigers.[9] On 21 September 2019 Martin made his first team debut for Leicester in a Premiership Rugby Cup fixture against Worcester Warriors.[10] On 7 July 2020 he signed a new contract with Leicester.[11]

Martin was named as BT Sport's man of the match for Leicester's win against Newcastle Falcons in the 2020-21 European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals,[12] and then again after the opening game of the 2021-22 Premiership Rugby season, a 34-19 victory over Exeter Chiefs.[13] He ended the season playing in the final as a replacement and making the penultimate carry before Freddie Burns' 80th minute drop goal which won the match.[14]

On 28 September 2022 Martin extended his contract at Leicester.[15]

International career[edit]

On 1 January 2021 Martin was selected for England under-20s squad for the 2021 U20 Six Nations,[16] then on 22 January 2021 he was named in Eddie Jones' "Shadow squad" for the senior 2021 Six Nations Championship.[17][18] He was named as a "finisher" for the England match against Wales,[19][20] but was not used.[21]

On 20 March 2021 he made his England debut against Ireland, coming on as a replacement for Billy Vunipola in the 64th minute in a 32-18 defeat.[22][23]

On 5 August 2023 Martin started his first international, a Rugby World Cup warm up match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium. On 7 August 2023, Martin was named in England's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "George Martin profile". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  2. ^ "George Martin Leicester Tigers profile". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  3. ^ "England U16 on form in victory over Wales". NextGenXV. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  4. ^ "BMC RUGBY STAR CALLED UP TO THE ENGLAND UNDER 18S RUGBY SQUAD". Brooksby Melton College. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  5. ^ Lawton, Andrew (11 August 2018). "England defeated by France in U18 International series opener". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Skipper Martin makes it two from two with U18s". Leicester Tigers. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  7. ^ Jones, Paul (14 February 2019). "Seven Leicester Tigers academy players target a second Finals Day success when they meet Gloucester". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  8. ^ Jones, Paul (20 February 2019). "Leicester Tigers cubs are learning the tough lessons of Premiership rugby - Tom Youngs". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Brooksby Melton College Students Sign Professional Contracts with Leicester Tigers". Skills & Education Group. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Match report: Tigers young guns come up short at Worcester". Leicester Tigers. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  11. ^ "YOUNG PROSPECTS COMMIT TO LEICESTER TIGERS". Premiership Rugby. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Leicester Tigers player ratings: Harry Potter 'magical', George Martin a machine, Heyes shines". Leicester Mercury. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Leicester Tigers player ratings from Exeter win: 'Commanding'". Leicester Mercury. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title". BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Leicester Tigers: Freddie Steward, George Martin and Jack van Poortvliet sign new deals". BBC Sport. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  16. ^ Sherrard, Gary (1 January 2021). "Three Tigers named in England Under-20s". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  17. ^ Cameron, Ian (22 January 2021). "Eddie Jones names 28-man England Six Nations squad". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Six Nations: Odogwu and Randall called up by England". BBC Sport. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  19. ^ "ENGLAND TEAM TO FACE WALES IN SIX NATIONS ANNOUNCED". England Rugby. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Six Nations 2021: Wales v England - Jamie George returns to starting X". BBC Sport. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  21. ^ "Wales 40-24 England". ESPN Scrum. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  22. ^ Morrow, Michael (20 March 2021). "Ireland 32-18 England: Hosts impress as they stun dismal England despite Bundee Aki red card". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  23. ^ Calvert, Lee (20 March 2021). "Ireland 32-18 England: Six Nations – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  24. ^ "England World Cup squad: Henry Slade & Alex Dombrandt miss out, Joe Marchant & Theo Dan in". BBC Sport. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.

External links[edit]