Martin Whitcombe

Martin Alun Whitcombe (born 14 September 1961 in Keighley, West Riding of Yorkshire) is a former Rugby Union Footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and coached in the 2000s.

He learnt to play rugby at Keighley RUFC and had a long playing career for Leicester Tigers, Bedford RFC, Sale FC, and Leeds Tykes, at prop i.e. 1 or 3. At a representative level he played for Yorkshire, The Northern Division, and England at 19 Group, Under 23 and England 'B'.

Martin Whitcombe was one of four children growing up in the family run business, the Airedale Heifer Inn a public house in Sandbeds, Keighley, which was run by his rugby playing father Frank Whitcombe Jr. He attended Crossflatts Primary School & Bingley Grammar School, where he was capped, four times by England Schools 19 Group in the 1980 Five Nations Tournament.

After leaving school Whitcombe joined the Royal Air Force as a Physical Training Instructor. This three part course included PTI training at RAF Cosford, the Basic Parachute Course at No. 1 Parachute Training School and Adventurous training at Llanrwst in North Wales. After passing out with the rank of Corporal, Whitcombe was posted to RAF North Luffenham in Edith Weston and living in the town of Uppingham. This enabled Martin to accept an earlier invitation to join Leicester Tigers.