Italian · Paraná, Argentina · Born 21 October 1981Martín Castrogiovanni is an Argentine-born Italian former rugby prop and cult hero at Leicester Tigers, becoming the first prop and first Italian to win the Guinness Premiership Player of the Year award.
Martín Castrogiovanni won the Guinness Premiership Player of the Year award in his debut season at Leicester Tigers in 2007, the first prop and first Italian ever to receive the honour, the beginning of a relationship with the game's biggest stages that would yield 119 caps for Italy across four Rugby World Cups. He moved to Italian club Calvisano in 2001, spending five seasons there and winning the Italian Championship in 2005, while qualifying for the Italian national team through a grandfather born in Sicily. Castrogiovanni joined Leicester Tigers in 2006, and quickly became one of the most popular players in the club's history, winning the Guinness Premiership Player of the Year award in his debut season — the first prop and first Italian to receive the honour. Over seven seasons and 145 appearances at Welford Road, he helped the Tigers win four Premiership titles (2007, 2009, 2010, and a further title) and reach every Premiership final from 2005 to 2013, though Heineken Cup success eluded him there, with defeats in the 2007 and 2009 finals. Castrogiovanni moved to Toulon in 2013, finally winning the Heineken Cup, before finishing his career with a spell at Racing 92. He earned 119 caps for Italy across 14 years and four World Cups, making his debut against New Zealand in 2002, and was renowned as one of the finest scrummaging tight-head props of his generation. He was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame in 2021.
Becoming a cult hero at Leicester Tigers and the first prop to win the Guinness Premiership Player of the Year award
How They Played
Immensely powerful scrummager known for technical excellence and a larger-than-life personality
Lasting Impact
Widely regarded as one of the finest tight-head props of his generation, beloved by fans across three countries
Career Honours
- Guinness Premiership Player of the Year (2007), first prop and first Italian to win the award
- 4x Premiership Rugby champion (Leicester Tigers)
- Heineken Cup winner (2015, Toulon)
- 119 caps for Italy
- RugbyPass Hall of Fame inductee (2021)
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Calvisano | 2001–2006 | — |
| Leicester Tigers | 2006–2013 | — |
| Toulon | 2013–2015 | — |
| Racing 92 | 2015–2016 | — |
 Italy | — | 119 |
Italian Athletes