| George Martin | |
| Fullname: | George Frederick Martin |
| Birth Date: | 18 June 2001 |
| Birth Place: | Nottingham, England |
| Height: | 1.980NaN0 |
| Weight: | 1240NaN0 |
| School: | Rawlins Academy Brooksby Melton College |
| Position: | Lock, Flanker |
| Currentclub: | Leicester Tigers |
| Years1: | 2019– |
| Clubs1: | Leicester Tigers |
| Apps1: | 68 |
| Points1: | 40 |
| Years2: | 2019–2020 |
| Clubs2: | → Leicester Lions (loan) |
| Apps2: | 4 |
| Points2: | 0 |
| Repyears1: | 2018–2019 |
| Repcaps1: | 19 |
| Reppoints1: | 5 |
| Repyears3: | 2021– |
| Repcaps3: | 15 |
| Reppoints3: | 0 |
| Clubupdate: | 5 October 2024 |
| Repupdate: | 24 November 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]
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]
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]
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 at the Millennium Stadium. On 7 August 2023, Martin was named in England's squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.[25]
Martin has experienced knee and other injuries, and is cognisant of longevity in his body management.[26]