Latest news with #MackenzieMartin
Wales Online
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
'International-class' Wales star swaps regions as signing confirmed
'International-class' Wales star swaps regions as signing confirmed The Dragons have strengthened their pack with the loan signing of Mackenzie Martin from Cardiff Mackenzie Martin has joined the Dragons (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) The Dragons have confirmed the signing of Mackenzie Martin on a loan deal from Cardiff. WalesOnline exclusively reported last week Martin was on his way to Rodney Parade, where he will spend a season on loan. A physical back-five forward, who predominantly plays at No 8, Martin is a powerful ball-carrier and made his Cardiff debut in the BKT United Rugby Championship clash with DHL Stormers in November 2023. The highly-rated 21-year-old – who stands 6ft 5ins and weighs 116kg – was called into the Wales international set-up ahead of the 2024 Six Nations and has won five Test caps. But despite his meteoric rise last season, Martin has found it tough going at the Arms Park, playing the majority of his rugby for Cardiff RFC in Super Rygbi Cymru, even slotting in at lock. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Martin is a player with an extremely high ceiling and was somebody Warren Gatland thought could potentially reach the heights as a top-class international player. The hope is the 21-year-old can really kick on under head coach Filo Tiatia at the Dragons. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Article continues below But getting into the Dragons side won't be easy because the backrow is undoubtedly the strongest area of their squad, with the likes of Aaron Wainwright, Thomas Young, Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harri Keddie and Solomone Funaki all competing for a starting shirt. 'We're looking forward to welcoming Mackenzie into the environment and I know he is very motivated to make a big impression in our group," said Tiatia. 'Mackenzie is an international-class back row forward who will only increase the competition in our squad for the No 8 jersey, alongside the likes of Aaron Wainwright, Solomone Funaki and Harrison Keddie.' Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Article continues below Martin becomes the club's 10th new recruit ahead of the new season alongside Fetuli Paea, Tinus de Beer, Thomas Young, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Fine Inisi, Levi Douglas, Seb Davies, and Harry Beddall with more expected to arrive. The Dragons only won twice throughout the 2024/25 season with former head coach Dai Flanagan losing his job last October. Flanagan was replaced by Ospreys legend Tiatia who will have had his first full pre-season with the squad and should make the Men of Gwent a more difficult team to beat.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cardiff number eight Martin joins Dragons on loan
Wales number eight Mackenzie Martin will join Dragons from Cardiff on loan for the 2025-26 made his Cardiff debut against Stormers in November 2023 and was given his Wales debut during the 2024 Six 21-year-old found his opportunities limited in the Cardiff back row in the 2024-25 campaign and will link up with Dragons next becomes the club's 10th new recruit alongside Fetuli Paea, Tinus de Beer, Thomas Young, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Fine Inisi, Levi Douglas, Seb Davies and Harry Beddall."We're looking forward to welcoming Mackenzie and I know he is motivated to make a big impression in our group," said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia. "Mackenzie is an international class back row who will increase the competition in our squad for the number eight jersey, alongside Aaron Wainwright, Solomone Funaki and Harrison Keddie."
Wales Online
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales star set to switch regions on loan in hope of reigniting career
Wales star set to switch regions on loan in hope of reigniting career The Wales international looks to be on the move for the 2025/26 season Wales backrower Mackenzie Martin looks set to join the Dragons (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency ) The Dragons are set to sign Wales international Mackenzie Martin on loan from Cardiff. WalesOnline understands Martin has agreed a move to Rodney Parade, with the deal expected to get finalised over the next few days. The 21-year-old backrower burst onto the scene last season and has won five caps for Wales after making his Test debut against Ireland in the 2024 Six Nations. But Martin has struggled to kick on over the past year and has been playing a lot of his rugby for Cardiff RFC in Super Rugby Cymru, even figuring in the second-row at times. Martin is a player with huge potential and the Dragons will be hoping they can get the best out of the powerful backrower. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. In general in Welsh rugby big, powerful and explosive forwards are in short supply but Martin is one player who fits the bill. Martin is a very powerful and dynamic ball carrier capable of making significant post-contact metres and is a player who can dominate the collisions. Article continues below He is also a very talented footballer, with an outstanding offloading game which can unlock opposition defences. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. With Wales great Taulupe Faletau extending his stay at Cardiff it is arguably in everyone's best interests that Martin seeks opportunities elsewhere with his game-time expected to be limited at the Arms Park. WalesOnline understands the Dragons have swooped to secure his services on a loan deal. If the deal is finalised Martin will join a strong pool of backrow players at Rodney Parade which includes Shane Lewis-Hughes, Aaron Wainwright, Thomas Young, Ryan Woodman, Harry Beddall and Solomone Funaki. It has been a bitterly disappointing season for the Men of Gwent but there is every reason to believe they will perform significantly better in 2025/26. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Head coach Filo Tiatia has been busy strengthening his squad and has made a number of key signings. Article continues below The likes of Wales props Wyn Jones and Dillon Lewis, Cardiff lock Seb Davies, Welsh qualified lock Levi Douglas from Biarritz, Thomas Young, South African playmaker Tinus de Beer along with Tongan pair Fine Inisi and Fetui Paea have been added to the squad. A change of scenery could do Martin the world of good and Tiatia will be desperate to unlock his obvious potential. Martin is a player who could be a huge asset to the national side over the next few years and the hope is a move to Rodney Parade could reignite his career.
Wales Online
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wanted Wales international told to show some resilience amid interest from rivals
Wanted Wales international told to show some resilience amid interest from rivals Mackenzie Martin has struggled for game time in his second senior season at Cardiff Martin has been urged to be patient Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt has challenged Mackenzie Martin to show some resilience amid interest in the Wales No. 8. WalesOnline reported this week that the Dragons had expressed an interest in the 21-year-old after struggling for regular game time this season. Having broken into Cardiff's team last season, earning a Wales call-up in the process, Martin has yet to start for the Arms Park side this season while he also hasn't added to his collection of four Test caps. Having made just six appearances off the bench for Cardiff, most of Martin's involvements this season has been in Super Rygbi Cymru for Cardiff RFC. That has coincided with the young back-row - who was initially called up to Wales' Six Nations squad in 2024 after just seven senior appearances - missing out on recent Wales squads. Having toured Australia last summer, Martin wasn't part of Warren Gatland's autumn and Six Nations squads this season. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Article continues below Martin's first setback in senior rugby has been met with the Dragons showing an interest in signing the powerful back-row. Whether any deal materialises, given Martin still has a year to run on his current deal at the Arms Park, remains to be seen. Martin didn't feature for either Cardiff's professional or semi-professional sides last weekend. However, when asked if Martin was fit and available ahead of their last home game of the season against Munster, Sherratt said Martin's lack of game time was a symptom of Cardiff's rich back-row stocks. "He's in contention for selection," said Sherratt. "It's the hardest place to select. "We've got guys like Dan Thomas missing out. Gwillym Bradley and Lucas de la Rua haven't featured this year. "To fit Faletau, Lawrence, Young, Botham and Mann, who have all been playing well, into the back-row is difficult. "I probably take it right back to where we were. Mackenzie is 21 and he's got a British Lion and someone who is probably not far off being player of the season in Alun Lawrence ahead of him. "It's probably one of those times in his career where he's going to have to show a bit of resilience, work hard and get himself back on the field. "The competition is pretty intense but that's how you want it." There has been some added uncertainty over contracts at Cardiff in recent weeks, with the club having been taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union after going into administration. There is the risk that players could feasibly void their contracts - with all of Cardiff's playing group having been given a letter to sign that would see them acknowledge their transfer of their contract from Cardiff Rugby Limited to the WRU's new subsidiary. Article continues below It's understood that not all players had necessarily signed by the deadline of last Monday evening, although it's unclear if everyone has since put pen to paper.
Wales Online
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Dragons make approach for Wales international amid Cardiff uncertainty
Dragons make approach for Wales international amid Cardiff uncertainty The 21-year-old has struggled for minutes in his second senior campaign at the Arms Park Mackenzie Martin has attracted interest from the Dragons (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) The Dragons have shown interest in signing Wales international Mackenzie Martin from Cardiff. The No. 8 has a year left to run on his contract at the Arms Park, but has found game time difficult to come by in his second season in senior rugby after a whirlwind rise to the Test arena. The 2023/24 campaign saw him break into Cardiff's first team after impressing in the Welsh Premiership, earning a Wales debut under Warren Gatland in last year's Six Nations. However, the Ely product's follow-up season has seen him not make a single start for his club or add to his four Test caps. Having played over 800 minutes for club and country last season, the 21-year-old has managed just 99 minutes in cameos off the bench this year - with a lot of his game time having been for Cardiff RFC in Super Rygbi Cymru. It would appear the Rodney Parade club are aware of his situation, having approached Cardiff over their interest. Article continues below Filo Tiatia has already signed a number of players from the Welsh capital for next season - with Tinus de Beer, Thomas Young and Seb Davies all swapping blue and black for black and amber. Former Cardiff loosehead Dillon Lewis is also joining the club from Harlequins ahead of next season. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. However, while the Dragons have outlined their desire to add another Wales international to their ranks, it's unclear whether any move will materialise just yet given Martin has another year left on his deal. There has been some added uncertainty over deals in recent weeks, with Cardiff having been taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union after going into administration. As is often the case with clubs going into administration, there was the risk that players could feasibly void their contracts - with all of Cardiff's playing group given a letter to sign that would see them acknowledge their transfer of their contract from Cardiff Rugby Limited to the WRU's new subsidiary. It's understood that not all players had necessarily signed by the deadline of last Monday evening. However, Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt was hopeful that no player will leave as a result of last week's events. "No, I don't think so," said Sherratt last week. "For the first reason, I think the players that are here are happy here. "I've tried to make Cardiff an enjoyable place to play rugby. I want players who have a connection to the club and the city, and want to play for a club with the history we've got here. "Hopefully all the players here have an attachment to the club. So that hopefully keeps them anyway. And then, if I'm honest contractually, I wouldn't know the detail of whether they're in contract or not. "From the conversations I've had with the club, once they've TUPE'd across, their contract is the same as before we went into administration. But I'm not a lawyer, so don't hold me to that." Sherratt has previously spoken about the need for the likes of Martin, Alex Mann and Cameron Winnett - who have all been capped by Wales at an early age in the past two years before being overlooked at some point - to show resilience in the face of these relative setbacks. "That's the challenge," he said at the start of this season. "If you look at the likes of Mackenzie Martin, Alex Mann and Cam Winnett, they've been thrust into international rugby. "I couldn't be more pleased that they have done, but we've got to temper that with the fact they're young players who are still developing. I watched Mackenzie play for Cardiff RFC against Newport last September. "Nine months later, he's playing against Ireland and touring Australia. Their climb has been massive. For them, it's realising that rugby, like any job, isn't a straight line to success. "They're going to have bumps and injuries along the way. They'll have non-selections because the likes of Taulupe Faletau and James Botham are coming back. There's a lot of competition for places. "We'll probably see a little bit of their resilience this year when we'll see how they are second season, when there's maybe a bit more expectation on them - not from me, but from themselves. It's how they react when there's a bump in the road, which is inevitable as it's a bumpy career path. "Even last year, obviously we had Thomas Young on the sidelines a lot, Josh Turnbull retired, Ellis Jenkins was at that stage of his career where he wasn't going to play every week, Toby played 20 minutes and we had a small squad. Every region has had a little of it. "We maybe had a little bit more. And they played so well, they got picked for Wales. I'm keen that, as a young player, you just enjoy playing without the expectation and overthinking around selection. Article continues below "If I told Mackenzie a year ago he'd have four Welsh caps, he'd have snatched my hand off. We're looking at the long-term for these players. When they're 25 or 26, which is still five years away for some of them, it's making sure they're still on an upward curve - not having a season like no other last year and then hitting a roadblock."
