His club, Cardiff Rugby, are delighted with his progress and awarded the home-grown 20-year-old his first senior contract in January and have played him 10 times this season.
Warren Gatland took a punt on the 6ft 5in, 18st 4lb back rower in his Six Nations squad and gave him a debut off the bench in the defeat in Dublin against the Irish.
The other metric is how the people of Ely, where he was born and raised, are reacting to his dramatic rise as a professional sportsman. It is not an area usually associated international rugby players but ‘Big Mac’s’ rise has already struck a chord within his community.
There are young lads now sporting what is being described as the ‘Big Mac Mullet’.
“It’s been pretty crazy. I started the season with Cardiff RFC and then luckily Matt Sherratt gave me the chance to play for Cardiff Rugby,” said Martin. “I took the opportunity, and that’s exactly what I want to do here with Wales. I haven’t really thought about the whole season, I’ve just worried about the next training session or the next day.
Denne historien er fra March 03, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra March 03, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
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Barrington ready to power up the Mob
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Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
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Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.
