There are rapid rises in rugby. Then there is this season’s elevation of Cardiff number eight Mackenzie Martin.
After just nine professional games and only making his senior rugby ..;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;.;debut in November 2020, the 20-year-old known as “Big Mac” or “Macca” finds himself on Wales’ replacements bench against the might of Ireland in the Six Nations showdown in Dublin.
Martin has played more games for Wales Under-20s than completed senior appearances but is set to be handed his first Test appearance in his first professional season.
Standing at 6ft 5in and 18 stone, Martin’s physical abilities have been recognised with Wales not having having many similar strong ball-carrying specimens.
His selection is also a triumph for the Ely community he represents with the Cardiff suburb not always enjoying positive press.
This sort of success does not normally happen to somebody who grew up in Ely’s Grand Avenue and attended Hywel Dda primary school and Mary Immaculate High School.
BBC Sport Wales speaks to some of the people who have helped Martin along the way.
‘Biggest in his year group’
Mary Immaculate High School Head of PE Ryan Crimmins first met Mackenzie when he joined the school aged 11.
“He stood out as being the biggest boy in his year group,” said Crimmins.
“I can remember telling his parents in year seven he has the potential to go all the way. You can see when somebody has those raw attributes to go on and play to a high standard.
“He was always a funny boy, loved being active and in practical lessons.
“He did have a few challenges when he first joined us and at times found some aspects of high school difficult but he matured as he went through and was always respectful and polite.
“He developed into an inspirational young man and saw school and rugby as a vehicle to bettering himself.
“It was a unique school that I was lucky enough to work at for 15 years.
“It has an interesting demographic and serves some of the most deprived wards in Wales with a significantly high free school meal percentage.
“It has a lot of challenges in the community, Ely often gets a bad reputation and the school works hard for the pupils in terms of bettering themselves.
“Mackenzie does so much for the local community to bring them along on his journey.
“One of the proudest things I remember was when Mackenzie came in and gifted us one of his Wales Under-20s shirts to display in reception.
“It shows he is someone who is willing to give back. He is a role model, an Ely boy who has done well in a short space of time. He is someone that young people in Caerau and Ely can look up to.
“People often speak about his upbringing. A lot of good rugby players have come from the area and it is served by two good clubs in Glamorgan Wanderers and Caerau Ely.
“I can assure you there will be a Caerau presence in Dublin and I was immediately looking at flights after his selection.
“I am surprised the internet did not go down in Caerau because there is going to be lots of people going to try and get out there.
“It will be the proudest moment of my career. To see someone you have known from when he was 11 to becoming the young man they are now, seeing them develop as a player, person and role model, even a pillar of the community, is phenomenal.”
Ely boy done good
Liam Mackay was a Cardiff schools coach when he first met Mackenzie aged 14. Mackay founded the Caerau Ely rugby club in 2017.
While Martin never played for the club – he turned out for Glamorgan Wanderers and Clwb Rygbi – he has supported the institution passionately.
“He has always been very grateful for the support and every opportunity he has had. He is a perfect role model for the other children in the area,” said Mackay.
“He is helping inspire the next generation and thriving with that responsibility. He has become a cult hero and I have players growing their hair so they have a bit of a Mackenzie Martin fuzz top.
“He is kind with his time and can’t do enough for this area.
“He has turned up to anything and everything the club has put on, from training sessions with the under-eights to fundraisers and helping delivering Christmas meals to families and giving presents to children.
“We are trying to get as much positive coverage out of this for the area as possible. You never know where the next good news stories are coming for areas like ours.
“What you usually find is good and bad news stories are normally the talk of the town between adults. At the moment Mackenzie is the talk between younger people which can only be positive.
“Somebody they see in the shop or walking the streets of their local area, they are now seeing on television in a positive light.
“We are used to seeing the area in the news for negative reasons. We are not far away from some of the riots that took place in Ely last year.
“Something that shines a positive light in the area is important and will help some young people realise they can make something of themselves through sport.
“We have an event at the club on Saturday afternoon where we have invited all the minis and juniors and the parents so we will be disappointed if he does not get on!
“You will have a lot of people bursting with pride seeing somebody representing them and the people of Ely on such a big stage.
“There will be a cheer in the club if we get to see him taking his tracksuit top off and coming onto the field for Wales. It will top the lot if he gets to do that.”
From schoolboy to academy graduate
Gruff Rees is Cardiff Rugby’s academy manager where Martin came through the organisation’s pathway programme. Rees also played a part, with Cardiff and Vale College director of rugby Martyn Fowler, in keeping Martin in the area when English schools were trying to attract him.
“The first time I saw him was at under-15s and it wasn’t the hardest talent identification project for me or any neutral observer,” said Rees.
“The raw materials were there in terms of his physical prowess and physical attributes.
“He came as a prop but we quickly converted him to the back row and got him an academy contract knowing he was getting glances from across the bridge in England.
“We put something together and worked well with Mary Immaculate school and with Martyn Fowler at Cardiff and Vale College, who we have made some significant grounds over the last few years as a rugby partner for ourselves.
“It gave us stability to help guide and shape and build an affinity with Mackenzie for those crucial years.
“It [success] was never a given even though we could see his size and physical potential.
“There was still a lot of hurdles to overcome. We had a good program in place and Mackenzie would buy into it.
“It hasn’t always been straightforward and Mackenzie has had some challenges at different times, like everybody.
“People are different and we pride ourselves on being able to support people knowing the good is always going to outweigh the bad.
“He has grown up off the field as well. We have put our arms around him at certain times and given him the stick as well and he’s reacted brilliantly all the way through.
“Success this season has come quickly, perhaps due to circumstances.
“It was only a couple of months ago he was part of the Cardiff RFC program, playing against Morgan Morse in a good battle in Swansea.
“There’s a World Cup cycle, and Gats (Warren Gatland) likes to have a look at these things and Mackenzie finds himself with his opportunity this weekend. We are so proud of him.”
Senior transition
It was Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt who provided Martin with his senior debut in November 2023 against Stormers.
“We’ve all been impressed with Mackenzie this year,” said Sherratt.
“We all know he has things you cannot coach. He’s 6’5”, he’s fast and physical.
“He has that natural athleticism and size but coming off the back of Wales Under-20s in the summer, he has come into our senior squad with a professional attitude, hunger and willingness to learn.
“He has worked closely with the likes of Josh Turnbull, Ellis Jenkins and Taulupe Faletau, who have all been excellent with him, to soak up their experience.
“He has grabbed his opportunity at Cardiff with both hands and translated that ability from age-grade, academy and Wales Under-20s to the top level.
“We are thrilled for Mackenzie but he should also be proud of his progress he has made. It is his attitude and work ethic that has enabled him to kick onto the next level.”
The big day?
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has already handed Cardiff duo Cameron Winnett and Alex Mann caps during this Six Nations. Now it could be Martin’s turn.
“He’s as green as anything and raw,” said Gatland.
“He’s got some talent but we’re trying not to throw in too many new faces all at once. We’re trying to integrate some of them.
“He’ll get some good game time on Saturday. I want to see him get his hands on the ball and defend.
“For a 20-year-old, he’s 118kgs and is only going to get bigger and stronger. He needs to learn about playing the game at this level and that’s going to take a bit of time for him.
“He’s had nine professional games for Cardiff and then he’s thrown in to play one of the best teams in the world.”