The qualified lawyer hunting Euro glory at Dragons
Argentina prop Rodrigo Martinez is fully focused on bending the law at the scrum for Dragons after completing six years of legal studies. The 27-year-old loose-head was a member of the starting line-up that stunned Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup to earn a quarter-final trip to Zebre on Saturday (20:00 BST). Victory in Paris was a career highlight in a busy season for Martinez, who has made 15 appearances, become a parent and completed a law degree.
His son, Otto, was born in Argentina in September and 10 days later the prop returned to Wales for the start of the season. "I missed his first two months and that was tough but now they are over here," said Martinez. "I am struggling a bit with the sleep but everything else is unbelievable.
" While temporarily separated from his family, Martinez kept his mind occupied with rugby and a degree in law. "I went to the books and focused on that and rugby so I didn't think too much about how I was missing them," he said. "I'm now a qualified lawyer after almost six years.
It was online and I tried to do at least one hour a day and use my days off, I just built the habit. " Martinez will decide what to do with the degree in years to come but for now he is focused on rugby matters after quietly being an excellent addition to Dragons' squad. Dragons' shock win keeps Wales in Europe after TMO woe Revitalised Wales wing Dyer signs new Dragons deal The three-times capped Argentina international has played in 41 of 62 possible games for the Newport-based region and has made Wales home after misfortune in England.
Martinez was signed by Wasps in 2021 but was out of a job when they went into administration. So he signed for London Irish, only for the Exiles to suffer the same fate before he had played a game. "Moving to the Dragons has been good, there have been some tough moments but I love what we are trying to build and develop here.