England’s Mr Incredible
George Martin is 6ft 6in and 19 stone but still squeezes into his tiny car like a cartoon superhero. He is...
GEORGE MARTIN is a massive man who drives a tiny car, which has led to the Tigers and England second-row being compared to a cartoon super-hero.
This only comes to light because the 22-year-old — who made his Six Nations comeback from injury against Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend — is asked if he is recognised much around Leicester, not least because he stands out a mile at 6ft 6in and 19 stone. So Martin explains how he manages to keep a low profile.
‘I put my hood up, I’m OK,’ he says. ‘I’ve been driving into camp with (Leicester prop) Joe Heyes. Joe was waiting outside the block of flats I’m in and he’s got a car with his name on the side. A Tigers fan came up and asked why he was here and he said, “George Martin lives here” and they said they’d seen me. Joe asked if he’d spoken to me and he said no — he was too scared!’
So, doesn’t Martin have his name on the side of his car? It turns out it would barely fit. ‘I need a new car, to be honest. I’m in a little Volkswagen Up,’ he says. ‘ Ches ( team- mate Ollie Chessum) takes the mick and says it’s like Mr Incredible (right) climbing into a car. It was my first car and I just haven’t changed it. It’s from 2012, it’s done 100,000 miles or something and I’ll drive it until it breaks.’
Martin made his England debut against Ireland in Dublin, while still a teenager, three years ago — but he really announced himself at Test level with a thunderous performance in last year’s World Cup semi-final against champions South Africa.
His brutal defensive shot on the rampaging Springbok flanker, Franco Mostert, sent shockwaves around the stadium and the sport at large. Martin showed in that moment that he can give the national team a prodigious level of aggressive physicality.
He described that stand- out incident as ‘special’ and supporters should savour the fact that Martin absolutely adores throwing his considerable weight around for a living. England’s World Cup-winning team manager, Richard Hill, described him as a ‘good, old-fashioned Leicester forward’ and Martin is asked what that means to him.
‘A bit hard-nosed,’ he says, with a big grin. ‘Just do my job. Work for the team. That’s it. The physicality of the game is the best part. You have to embrace the physicality and enjoy it.’ Reflecting on that clash with the Boks in Paris, he adds: ‘It was a great game — just a shame we came up short. But those are the games, the proper Test matches, where it’s so physical — it’s just all man against man and it’s class.’
The rookie is too young to remember watching Martin Johnson play but he has been compared many times to the iconic national captain and Lions legend. He brings the same imposing clout and hard edge.
Martin has operated at blindside flanker and lock, and is happy to fulfil either role for England — having put on around 6kg in the last couple of years.
‘I’ve filled out a bit,’ he says. ‘I wasn’t small, but I’ve definitely filled out a bit — and probably slowed down a bit!’
Unlike his fellow Leicester lock, Chessum, he doesn’t have to load up on food to maintain his ideal playing size. ‘ Ches is unlucky in that aspect, in that he has to eat a lot to put weight on and eat a lot to maintain weight,’ Martin adds. ‘But I’m quite lucky, I can just eat a little extra, have a little protein shake before bed and my weight shoots up, so I’m all right! ‘I wouldn’t eat too much on game day. In the morning I would have just a bit of porridge or an omelette. Then I like having fish. I just try and keep it quite light.’
While he was out injured, Martin worked on his ‘blast at the breakdown’ which involves using his giant frame to ‘cause destruction’. And what about when he’s not on duty? Here is the tongue-in-cheek summary of his outside interests…
‘I just like chilling out, mate,’ he says. ‘I like going on walks. I live in the middle of Leicester so I’ve got Abbey Park next to me and I make sure I can get out there. I like watching films, too. I’m big into my films.’
What sort of films — romantic comedies?! ‘ Yeah, that’s it,’ he quips. ‘ The Notebook!’ So, is he more Barbie or Oppenheimer? ‘ Oppenheimer!’
An occasional interest in golf has been made easier now that he has equipment which suits his stature. ‘I’ve got extra-long clubs,’ he says. ‘I got something sorted from Ping and it’s made a big difference from having to bend over!’