Martin Castrogiovanni

Born Martin Leandro Castrogiovanni on October 21, 1981, in Parana, Argentina, he later gained Italian citizenship through his Sicilian grandfather. Early in his life, his mother disapproved of rugby, leading him to play basketball until the age of 18. After a confrontation with a referee in basketball, he began his rugby career with Atletico Estudiantes before moving to the Italian side Calvisano in 2001. His five years with Calvisano saw him win the Italian championship in 2005. Castrogiovanni made his Test debut for Italy in June 2002 against New Zealand and became a regular in the national side, making his first Six Nations start in 2003.

In 2006, Castrogiovanni signed with the Leicester Tigers, where he spent seven seasons. During this period, he became a central figure for the team, making 145 appearances and contributing to winning multiple Premiership titles. He was recognized for his performance by being named the Guinness Premiership Player of the Season in 2007. After much speculation about a move to France, he joined Toulon in 2013, winning a Heineken Cup, before concluding his professional club career with Racing 92 in 2016.

Throughout his international career, Castrogiovanni earned 119 caps for Italy over 14 years, distinguishing himself as a cornerstone of the team’s scrum. He was a part of the Italian squads in the 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015 Rugby World Cups. His leadership was evident when he captained Italy to a 13-6 victory against Scotland in the 2012 Six Nations Championship. Off the field, Castrogiovanni is a co-owner of Timo, an Italian restaurant in Leicester, and runs the Castro Rugby Academy, focusing on youth development.