Martin Castrogiovanni
Full name | Martín Leandro Castrogiovanni | ||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | October 21, 1981 | ||
Place of birth | Paraná, Argentina | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
Weight | 119 kg (262 lb; 18 st 10 lb) [1] | ||
Rugby union career | |||
Playing career | |||
Position | Tight-head Prop | ||
Amateur clubs | |||
Years | Club / team | ||
Atlético Estudiantes | |||
Professional / senior clubs | |||
Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
2001–2006 2006–2013 2013–2015 2015– |
Calvisano Leicester Tigers Toulon Racing 92 |
20 145 38 |
(0) (40) (5) |
correct as of 28 August 2015. | |||
National team(s) | |||
Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
2002– | Italy | 115 | (60) |
correct as of 26 September 2015. |
Martín Leandro Castrogiovanni (born October 21, 1981) is an Italian Argentine rugby union footballer.
He played for Ghial Calvisano, with whom he won the Italian championship in 2005. He signed a contract with Leicester Tigers, and after a successful 2006/07 season with them, was named Guinness Premiership player of the season.[2] He wears the name "Castro" on his shirt rather than "Castrogiovanni" A native of Paraná, Argentina, Castrogiovanni made his international debut for the Italian national team on June 8, 2002, during the tour against the All Blacks, and since, has become a regular in the national side. He played every game of Italy's 2004 Six Nations campaign and was a reliable member of their forward pack, being selected man of the match in the victory against Scotland. One of his most famous moments came in 2004, when, during the summer tour against Japan, he scored a hat-trick - a rarity for a prop forward. He led the national team for the game against Scotland during the 2012 Six Nations Championship, which Italy won 13-6, leading him to Tweet "Only unbeaten 6 Nations Captain".
Castrogiovanni and Marcos Ayerza signed three-year contract extensions with the Premiership champions in January 2008.[3] In 2011, after much speculation about a move to France, he declared "money isn't everything" and renewed his contract with Leicester Tigers, much to the relief of the Leicester, where the chant of "Castro" is heard often as he is a firm favourite of the fans.
During the 2008 Six Nations Championship, Castrogiovanni was Italy's top try scorer.
After seven years at Welford Road, he signed for French club Toulon for the 2013–14 season.[4] On 10 June 2015, Castrogiovanni signs for Top 14 rivals Racing 92 from the 2015-16 season.[5]
Personal life
Castrogiovanni is co-owner of an Italian restaurant in Leicester, Timo. He has recently opened another Timo in Market Harborough, which he co-owns with fellow Tigers player Geordan Murphy.[6] He speaks four languages: his native Spanish, Italian, English and French.
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Guinness Premiership player of the season
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- 6 Nations profile
- Martin Castrogiovanni on LeicesterTigers.com
- Martin Castrogiovanni on ERCrugby.com
- Martin Castrogiovanni on rwc2003.irb.com
- Timo Restaurant link
- 1981 births
- Living people
- People from Entre Ríos Province
- Argentine rugby union players
- Italian rugby union players
- Argentine people of Italian descent
- Italian people of Argentine descent
- Leicester Tigers players
- Rugby Calvisano players
- RC Toulonnais players
- Rugby union props
- Italy international rugby union players
- Expatriate rugby union players in France
- Expatriate rugby union players in England