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George Martin (rugby union)

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George Martin
Full nameGeorge Frederick Martin
Date of birth (2001-06-18) 18 June 2001 (age 23)
Place of birthNottingham, England
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Weight124 kg (273 lb; 19 st 7 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 68 (40)
2019–2020Leicester Lions (loan) 4 (0)
Correct as of 6 October 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2019 England U18 12 (5)
2021– England 15 (0)
Correct as of 2 August 2024

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

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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

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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] 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

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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

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Martin has experienced knee and other injuries, and is cognisant of longevity in his body management.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "George Martin profile". ESPN Scrum. ESPN. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  2. ^ "George Martin Leicester Tigers profile". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  3. ^ https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/george-martin-in-leicester-academy-we-didnt-lose-its-in-us-young-boys-to-win-mhbgrdkwg
  4. ^ "England U16 on form in victory over Wales". NextGenXV. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  5. ^ "BMC RUGBY STAR CALLED UP TO THE ENGLAND UNDER 18S RUGBY SQUAD". Brooksby Melton College. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  6. ^ Lawton, Andrew (11 August 2018). "England defeated by France in U18 International series opener". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Skipper Martin makes it two from two with U18s". Leicester Tigers. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Jones, Paul (20 February 2019). "Leicester Tigers cubs are learning the tough lessons of Premiership rugby - Tom Youngs". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Brooksby Melton College Students Sign Professional Contracts with Leicester Tigers". Skills & Education Group. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Match report: Tigers young guns come up short at Worcester". Leicester Tigers. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  12. ^ "YOUNG PROSPECTS COMMIT TO LEICESTER TIGERS". Premiership Rugby. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Leicester Tigers player ratings: Harry Potter 'magical', George Martin a machine, Heyes shines". Leicester Mercury. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Leicester Tigers player ratings from Exeter win: 'Commanding'". Leicester Mercury. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title". BBC Sport. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Leicester Tigers: Freddie Steward, George Martin and Jack van Poortvliet sign new deals". BBC Sport. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  17. ^ Sherrard, Gary (1 January 2021). "Three Tigers named in England Under-20s". Leicester Tigers. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  18. ^ Cameron, Ian (22 January 2021). "Eddie Jones names 28-man England Six Nations squad". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Six Nations: Odogwu and Randall called up by England". BBC Sport. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  20. ^ "ENGLAND TEAM TO FACE WALES IN SIX NATIONS ANNOUNCED". England Rugby. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Six Nations 2021: Wales v England - Jamie George returns to starting X". BBC Sport. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Wales 40-24 England". ESPN Scrum. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ Calvert, Lee (20 March 2021). "Ireland 32-18 England: Six Nations – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  25. ^ "England World Cup squad: Henry Slade & Alex Dombrandt miss out, Joe Marchant & Theo Dan in". BBC Sport. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  26. ^ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/05/17/george-martin-enforcer-rehab-injury-leicester-tigers/
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