Martin Corry (rugby union)
A granite-hearted leader and consummate warrior for England and Leicester, embodying relentless physicality and uncompromising commitment on the pitch.
Born 1973 (age 53)·British Lions & England international rugby union player·Birthday: October 12·Generation X
Biography
Martin Corry was the engine room incarnate. For over a decade, he was the relentless force at the heart of England and Leicester Tigers packs, a player whose value was measured in tackles made, yards gained, and sheer will exerted. Not always the first name on the team sheet early in his international career, he became indispensable, captaining his country with a lead-by-example ferocity. His club legacy at Leicester is storied, featuring in multiple Premiership and Heineken Cup triumphs. Whether wearing the number eight or blindside flanker jersey, Corry's game was built on physical durability and an unshakeable work ethic, making him a favorite among teammates and fans who valued substance over flash.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Martin was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Martin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Martin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Captained England in 14 of his 64 test appearances, including during the 2007 Six Nations Championship.
- Won five Premiership titles with Leicester Tigers (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007).
- Won two Heineken Cup championships with Leicester Tigers in 2001 and 2002.
- Played in seven test matches for the British & Irish Lions across the 2001 and 2005 tours.
Did You Know?
He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2007.
He played for Newcastle Gosforth and Bristol before joining Leicester.
He scored a try in the 2001 Heineken Cup final victory over Stade Français.
After retirement, he served as a non-executive director for the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
“You don't wait for the jersey; you work until they can't ignore you.”
