Martin hopes Dragons loan can reignite career

Dragons loanee Mackenzie Martin won five Wales caps in 2024

Wales international Mackenzie Martin believes "feeling wanted" at Dragons can reignite his career after being frozen out at Cardiff.

The 21-year-old back-row forward from Ely, who won five Wales caps in 2024, will spend the season on loan at Rodney Parade.

Martin will hope to make his debut in the United Rugby Championship (URC) opener at Ulster on Friday (20:05 BST).

The number eight or blind-side flanker has not made a professional appearance since coming off the bench against Sharks for Cardiff in January, while his last start for the Blue and Blacks was against Lions in May 2024.

Last season Martin played just six games as a replacement at professional level and featured nine times for Cardiff RFC in Super Rygbi Cymru, with four of those as a makeshift lock.

He is relishing a fresh start at Dragons after being chased by head coach Filo Tiatia, who was a no-nonsense back-row forward himself in his playing days.

"Filo really wanted me at the club and I just wanted game time," said Martin.

"He said that he could offer me that as long as I train well.

"As long as I can stay fit, hopefully I will get game time, but I know that there are a lot of excellent back-rowers here. I want to work my way into the squad and keep myself there."

From battling Faletau to being Wainwright's rival

Martin started looking for a fresh start when Cardiff agreed a new contract with Wales and Lions legend Taulupe Faletau in May.

"Toby [Faletau] is the 'GOAT' [greatest of all time] and I would have done the same thing and re-signed him if I was Cardiff," said Martin.

"The lack of game time and people out of position playing ahead of me was tough to take, so I just thought I needed new ideas, fresh faces.

"They don't see me as an academy prospect here, they just see me as another one of the players and that's what I wanted."

Martin has gone from being a rival to 'the GOAT' to challenging another Wales international in Dragons talisman Aaron Wainwright.

All five of Martin's caps were won alongside Wainwright and he hopes they can join forces in club colours.

"It's not easy [competing] with 'Waino' but we have a good relationship and have done a couple of Wales camps together," he said.

"We know our strengths and weaknesses and have to compete with each other, but that just makes us both and the squad better.

"Waino can play across the back row and I can play six or eight, so I am sure they can work us both in if they want to.

"After the season I had, I just want to play. Of course I want to start as many games as I can, but I am not stressing.

"I am just happy to be in a good environment where they respect me and want me here. That's all I can ask for and the games will come as long as I stay fit and train well."

Dragons endured a nightmare 2024-25 that featured just one win in the URC and another in the Challenge Cup at Newcastle.

After a strong pre-season and morale-boosting friendly wins against Hartpury University RFC and Scarlets, Martin sees no reason why a much-changed squad cannot cause some upsets.

"The vibes are great," he said. "There has been change, a big turnover and the environment is amazing, which will help us grow whether through wins or performances.

"I know it was only pre-season but we went two from two and that's better than losing games. We are on the right trajectory and I am happy to be here."

Martin hopes for a strong first block to the URC that features a potential reunion with his parent club in October.

"I'm not sure if I am allowed to play, I hope that I can. It'd be good to play against some of my friends," said the 121kg forward.

"I love all the boys - grew up with some of them from 15 - but if I got the opportunity to run over them then that'd be fun!"