England international rugby union player
Rugby player
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
Martin was born in Nottingham , and grew up mostly in Loughborough . His father worked as an accountant.[ 3] He attended Rawlins Academy in Quorn, Leicestershire where he was selected for England's under-16 rugby union team.[ 4] He then attended Brooksby Melton College where he was selected for England's under-18 side .[ 5] He scored a try against France under-18 during their 2018 summer tour of South Africa[ 6] and in April 2019 captained at the under-18 Six Nations Festival.[ 7] Martin was part of Leicester Tigers two successive under 18 league titles.[ 8] [ 9]
Club career
In July 2019 Martin signed his first professional contract for Leicester Tigers .[ 10] On 21 September 2019 Martin made his first team debut for Leicester in a Premiership Rugby Cup fixture against Worcester Warriors .[ 11] He spent a period of time during the 2019-20 season on loan at Leicester Lions . On 7 July 2020 he signed a new contract with Leicester.[ 12]
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,[ 13] and then again after the opening game of the 2021-22 Premiership Rugby season, a 34-19 victory over Exeter Chiefs .[ 14] 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.[ 15]
On 28 September 2022 Martin extended his contract at Leicester.[ 16]
International career
On 1 January 2021 Martin was selected for England under-20s squad for the 2021 U20 Six Nations ,[ 17] then on 22 January 2021 he was named in Eddie Jones ' "Shadow squad" for the senior 2021 Six Nations Championship .[ 18] [ 19] He was named as a "finisher" for the England match against Wales ,[ 20] [ 21] but was not used.[ 22]
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.[ 23] [ 24]
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 .[ 25]
Injuries and body management
Martin has experienced knee and other injuries, and is cognisant of longevity in his body management.[ 26]
References
^ "George Martin profile" . ESPN Scrum . ESPN. Retrieved 22 January 2021 .
^ "George Martin Leicester Tigers profile" . Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 22 January 2021 .
^ Kelleher, Will (12 May 2023). "George Martin: 6ft 6in, 19st and the star of Leicester Tigers' season" . www.thetimes.com . Retrieved 18 December 2024 .
^ "England U16 on form in victory over Wales" . NextGenXV. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2021 .
^ "BMC RUGBY STAR CALLED UP TO THE ENGLAND UNDER 18S RUGBY SQUAD" . Brooksby Melton College . 28 February 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2021 .
^ Lawton, Andrew (11 August 2018). "England defeated by France in U18 International series opener" . Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 2 August 2021 .
^ "Skipper Martin makes it two from two with U18s" . Leicester Tigers. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2021 .
^ 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 .
^ Jones, Paul (20 February 2019). "Leicester Tigers cubs are learning the tough lessons of Premiership rugby - Tom Youngs" . Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 22 January 2021 .
^ "Brooksby Melton College Students Sign Professional Contracts with Leicester Tigers" . Skills & Education Group . 16 July 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2021 .
^ "Match report: Tigers young guns come up short at Worcester" . Leicester Tigers. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2021 .
^ "YOUNG PROSPECTS COMMIT TO LEICESTER TIGERS" . Premiership Rugby . 7 July 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021 .
^ "Leicester Tigers player ratings: Harry Potter 'magical', George Martin a machine, Heyes shines" . Leicester Mercury . 10 April 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021 .
^ "Leicester Tigers player ratings from Exeter win: 'Commanding' " . Leicester Mercury . 18 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021 .
^ "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title" . BBC Sport . 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022 .
^ "Leicester Tigers: Freddie Steward, George Martin and Jack van Poortvliet sign new deals" . BBC Sport . 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022 .
^ Sherrard, Gary (1 January 2021). "Three Tigers named in England Under-20s" . Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 22 January 2021 .
^ Cameron, Ian (22 January 2021). "Eddie Jones names 28-man England Six Nations squad" . Rugby Pass. Retrieved 22 January 2021 .
^ "Six Nations: Odogwu and Randall called up by England" . BBC Sport. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021 .
^ "ENGLAND TEAM TO FACE WALES IN SIX NATIONS ANNOUNCED" . England Rugby . 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021 .
^ "Six Nations 2021: Wales v England - Jamie George returns to starting X" . BBC Sport. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021 .
^ "Wales 40-24 England" . ESPN Scrum. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021 .
^ 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 .
^ Calvert, Lee (20 March 2021). "Ireland 32-18 England: Six Nations – as it happened" . The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2021 .
^ "England World Cup squad: Henry Slade & Alex Dombrandt miss out, Joe Marchant & Theo Dan in" . BBC Sport . 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023 .
^ Richardson, Charles (17 May 2024). "George Martin interview: I saw Tiger Woods' rehab guru to prolong my career" . The Telegraph . ISSN 0307-1235 . Retrieved 18 December 2024 .
External links