George Martin (rugby union)

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]

George Martin
Full nameGeorge Frederick Martin
Date of birth (2001-06-18) 18 June 2001
Place of birthNottingham, England
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight118 kg (260 lb; 18 st 8 lb)
SchoolRawlins Academy
Brooksby Melton College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Current team Leicester Tigers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2019– Leicester Tigers 58 (20)
2019–2020 → Leicester Lions (loan) 4 (0)
Correct as of 28 August 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2019 England U18 12 (5)
2021– England 6 (0)
Correct as of 28 August 2023

Early life

Martin attended Rawlins Academy in Quorn, 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

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

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
  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.


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