Allan Martin
Encyclopedia
Allan Jeffery Martin (born 11 December 1948) is a former Aberavon RFC
and Welsh international
rugby union
player. He was noted for his long distance goal-kicking.
Martin was capped at lock in every schoolboy age group by his country.
His hometown club Aberavon RFC
were quick to recognise his size and lineout talents and quickly nurtured him into their ranks in the late 1960s under the "protection" of Billy Mainwaring
, a fellow Welsh International.
Martin was first capped against Australia in 1973 along with his Aberavon team mate Clive Shell
. He went on to form the back bone of the successful Welsh team of the 1970s forming a partnership with Geoff Wheel of Swansea RFC. Martin was a proficient goal kicker and his kicks often assisted Wales during this time.
In 1977 he toured New Zealand
one of three players from Aberavon - outside half John Bevan
and prop Clive Williams
being the others. In 1980 he toured South Africa
with the British Lions
.
In 1979, piqued at being passed over for selection as Captain of Aberavon RFC
, he briefly joined Llanelli RFC
on a pre-season tour to South Africa before having a change of heart and returning to his former club. He never played a home game for Llanelli. Martin played a short spell for Penarth RFC
prior to retiring.
Following his retirement from playing he had a brief, and unsuccessful, spell as coach at Aberavon RFC
, ultimately being sacked after a string of poor results.
Since then Martin has disassociated himself from the club at which he won 34 Welsh caps, having removed a collection of memorabilia from the club's display cabinets, disappointingly to sell at public auction. He has taken several opportunities to harshly criticize the club in the media.
Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh town of Port Talbot, although the club's name refers to the older settlement of Aberavon which lies on the western side of the town...
and Welsh international
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He was noted for his long distance goal-kicking.
Biography
Having received his education at Sandfields Comprehensive school in Port TalbotPort Talbot
Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...
Martin was capped at lock in every schoolboy age group by his country.
His hometown club Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh town of Port Talbot, although the club's name refers to the older settlement of Aberavon which lies on the western side of the town...
were quick to recognise his size and lineout talents and quickly nurtured him into their ranks in the late 1960s under the "protection" of Billy Mainwaring
Billy Mainwaring
William Thomas Mainwaring, known as Billy, was a Welsh international second row rugby union player who played for Aberavon RFC....
, a fellow Welsh International.
Martin was first capped against Australia in 1973 along with his Aberavon team mate Clive Shell
Clive Shell
Clive Shell is a former Welsh international rugby union player. Shell made his debut for the Wales national rugby union team 10 November 1973 against Australia where he kissed the ball on his first touch while putting the ball into a scrum...
. He went on to form the back bone of the successful Welsh team of the 1970s forming a partnership with Geoff Wheel of Swansea RFC. Martin was a proficient goal kicker and his kicks often assisted Wales during this time.
In 1977 he toured New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
one of three players from Aberavon - outside half John Bevan
John Bevan
John Bevan may refer to:* John Bevan , Welsh dual-code rugby international who played rugby union for Cardiff and rugby league for Warrington...
and prop Clive Williams
Clive Williams
Clive Williams is a former international rugby union player. He toured twice with the British and Irish Lions, to New Zealand in 1977 and to South Africa in 1980....
being the others. In 1980 he toured South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with the British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
.
In 1979, piqued at being passed over for selection as Captain of Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh town of Port Talbot, although the club's name refers to the older settlement of Aberavon which lies on the western side of the town...
, he briefly joined Llanelli RFC
Llanelli RFC
Llanelli Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club founded in 1875 and its senior team is one of the leading club sides in Wales. The club began the 2008-09 season at their historic home ground of Stradey Park in Llanelli, but moved in November 2008 to the new Parc y Scarlets in adjacent...
on a pre-season tour to South Africa before having a change of heart and returning to his former club. He never played a home game for Llanelli. Martin played a short spell for Penarth RFC
Penarth RFC
Penarth Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based since 1924 at The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road, in Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales.-Origins and early history:...
prior to retiring.
Following his retirement from playing he had a brief, and unsuccessful, spell as coach at Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC
Aberavon RFC is a rugby union club located in the Welsh town of Port Talbot, although the club's name refers to the older settlement of Aberavon which lies on the western side of the town...
, ultimately being sacked after a string of poor results.
Since then Martin has disassociated himself from the club at which he won 34 Welsh caps, having removed a collection of memorabilia from the club's display cabinets, disappointingly to sell at public auction. He has taken several opportunities to harshly criticize the club in the media.