Last year was Martin’s first in Tigers colours, having joined the club from Italian side Calvisano in the 2006/07 off-season. His debut campaign was filled with both individual and collective high points as Tigers came close to recording a remarkable treble. The Italian international prop became an instant favourite with supporters before receiving nation-wide acclaim when he was named Guinness Premiership Player of the Year. By doing so, he made history by becoming the first prop and the first Italian to receive the award.
Martin was born in Argentina and went on to represent Atletico Estudiantes before moving to Italy in 2001 to become a professional player with Calvisano. During his time with the Italian side, he faced Tigers four times in the Heineken Cup as well as winning his first cap for his adopted country. He has since appeared in both the 2003 and 2007 World Cups for Italy and became only the third prop in history to score a hat-trick of international tries, against Japan in Tokyo in 2004.
The broadest smile at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday belonged to prop Martin Castrogiovanni after running in Leicester Tigers' fourth try in the EDF Energy Cup semi-final victory over London Wasps.
Martin Castrogiovanni scored his second try of the Championship when he touched down for Italy in the 25-13 defeat by France in the RBS 6 Nations on Sunday.
International props Martin Castrogiovanni and Marcos Ayerza have committed their futures to Leicester Tigers after signing three-year extensions to their current contracts.
