Challenge Cup: Qualified lawyer Rodrigo Martinez hunts glory with Dragons

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. I like the challenge of becoming a better team and a winning team,” he said.

Martinez competes for starts with Wales internationals Wyn Jones and fit-again Rhodri Jones plus the promising pair of Jordan Morris and Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths.

“Internal competition is what is making us better,” added the Argentine.

“Going up against them is class and it’s great to see the young guys step up and show what they can do.”

Rhys Carre’s try-scoring exploits with Wales in the Six Nations might have changed expectations for loose-head props but Martinez knows where he must thrive.

“For a prop everything starts at the scrum,” said the front-rower, who linked up with the Pumas for a training camp last autumn and played for an Argentina XV against Romania last summer.

“It doesn’t matter if you carry the ball and make 30 tackles a game if you can’t scrum.

“That is where you make your money and scrums, defence and the breakdown is where I get my confidence. Do that well and attack will come.”

After Dragons’ scrum went strongly against Stade Francais, Martinez will hope for more of the same in Parma on Saturday.