Martin Offiah
Encyclopedia
Martin Offiah MBE
(born 29 December 1965 in London, England) is an English former rugby league
and rugby union
footballer.
He is known as "Chariots" Offiah after the film Chariots of Fire
. When playing in Australia, he was also known as "Great Balls" Offiah after the Jerry Lee Lewis song
.
Since retiring Offiah has also provided commentary for Sky Sports
rugby league coverage and worked as a player agent.
near Ipswich, Suffolk, where he represented the school at fencing and played rugby and cricket. He played for Essex 2nd XI but soon realised his main talent was for rugby. At club level, he first played rugby union
for Rosslyn Park
and after starring on the Sevens circuit and for the Barbarians, there was talk of an England future.
playing in the Middlesex Sevens and was "brought North" to play rugby league for the 1987–88 season. Alex Murphy
had been interested in acquiring Offiah from rugby union, but the board of directors at St. Helens infamously referred to Offiah as an "uncoordinated clown" and the interest was not followed up with action. It was at Widnes where he forged his reputation as a devastating winger, scoring 181 tries in 145 games. By his second season at Widnes, Offiah's performance was rewarded with selection for the Great Britain national team
and the prestigious Man of Steel award.
During the 1989–90 Rugby Football League season, Offiah he played for defending champions Widnes on the wing in their 1989 World Club Challenge
victory against the visiting Canberra Raiders
.
in January 1992 for a world record fee of £440,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £868,000 in 2009). This figure remained a record for a total cash transfer until Wigan beat their own record, paying £450,000 for Stuart Fielden
from the Bradford Bulls
in 2006.
Playing on the wing, Offiah formed a devastating partnership with Gene Miles
in his first season at Wigan scoring 30 tries in just 15 games including setting a new club record of ten in a single match against Leeds in the Premiership semi-final in May.
He was selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand.
During the 1992–93 Rugby Football League season Offiah played on the wing for defending RFL champions Wigan in the 1992 World Club Challenge
against the visiting Brisbane Broncos
.
Offiah played in four Challenge Cup
wins, five Championship teams, three Regal Trophy
wins and one Lancashire Cup
victory. He twice won the Lance Todd Trophy at Wembley. His 90 metre solo try in the 1994 Challenge Cup Final win over Leeds is remembered as one of the finest ever but he made a habit of such runs during his career. After the 1993–94 Rugby Football League season Offiah travelled with defending champions Wigan
to Brisbane, playing on the wing in their 1994 World Club Challenge
victory over Australian premiers, the Brisbane Broncos
.
Offiah made a total of 158 appearances for Wigan with another single appearance as a substitute. He scored more than a try a game, crossing the line 186 times. He also managed a goal and 3 drop goals thus scoring a grand total of 749 points for the club.
A biography by David Lawrenson entitled Offiah: A Blaze of Glory was published in 1993. Then In 1995 Martin Offiah's life story, a 30 minute documentary was produced and directed by Pogus Caesar
for Carlton TV UK as part of the Respect TV series
.
in the New Year Honours 1997
and also played for London in their 1999 Challenge Cup final defeat against Leeds
. After this he moved to Salford for the 2000 season, staying for two seasons. He finished his career with London Wasps in Rugby Union.
In 2004 Offiah was one of the celebrities who took part in the first series of the BBC
's successful show Strictly Come Dancing
, reaching fourth place with his partner Erin Boag
. In 2005 alongside Natasha Kaplinsky
, he hosted the one-off special, Strictly African Dancing.
He currently works as a pundit for Sky Sports
rugby league coverage. He was a regular studio guest during the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
, and he presents a weekly Super League
round up on Sky Sports News
.
Offiah is also the agent
for Warrington
scrum half Richie Myler
and Kyle Eastmond
of St Helens.
In 2006 he appeared on a Reality TV Special of The Weakest Link, winning £10,050 and splitting the winnings with Danniella Westbrook
. Only once in the game did Martin get a single vote, and statistically was the strongest link in round six.
, they are; John Keith Bridges
(1), George Fairbairn
(1), Bobbie Goulding
(1), Sean Long
(1), Martin Offiah (1), Harry Pinner
(2), Alan Redfearn
(1), and Nigel Wright
(1).
Along with James "Jim" Leytham
, Stanley "Stan" Moorhouse
, Peter Norburn
, Keith Fielding
, Stuart Wright
, and Sam Tomkins
, having scored four tries
, Martin Offiah jointly holds the record for the most tries
scored in an England match.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 29 December 1965 in London, England) is an English former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer.
He is known as "Chariots" Offiah after the film Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice....
. When playing in Australia, he was also known as "Great Balls" Offiah after the Jerry Lee Lewis song
Great Balls of Fire
"Great Balls of Fire" is a 1957 song recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis on Sun Records and featured in the 1957 movie Jamboree. It was written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer...
.
Since retiring Offiah has also provided commentary for Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
rugby league coverage and worked as a player agent.
Early career
A Londoner, Offiah attended Woolverstone Hall SchoolWoolverstone Hall School
In the early 1950s the London County Council obtained use of Woolverstone Hall near Ipswich, Suffolk, and some of adjoining land for the purpose of establishing a secondary grammar boarding school for London boys...
near Ipswich, Suffolk, where he represented the school at fencing and played rugby and cricket. He played for Essex 2nd XI but soon realised his main talent was for rugby. At club level, he first played rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
for Rosslyn Park
Rosslyn Park F.C.
Rosslyn Park Football Club is a rugby union team. Founded in 1879, the club became the first club based in England to play rugby internationally when it faced Stade Francais in Paris on 18 April 1892. In 1912, the club played in Prague, Budapest and Vienna in the first rugby matches ever played in...
and after starring on the Sevens circuit and for the Barbarians, there was talk of an England future.
Widnes
Offiah was spotted by Widnes coach Doug LaughtonDoug Laughton
C. Doug Laughton is an English former rugby league footballer and coach. He played club football as a , or / for St. Helens, Wigan, Widnes and Canterbury Bulldogs...
playing in the Middlesex Sevens and was "brought North" to play rugby league for the 1987–88 season. Alex Murphy
Alex Murphy (rugby league)
Alex J. Murphy OBE is an English former professional rugby league footballer and coach of the mid to late 20th century...
had been interested in acquiring Offiah from rugby union, but the board of directors at St. Helens infamously referred to Offiah as an "uncoordinated clown" and the interest was not followed up with action. It was at Widnes where he forged his reputation as a devastating winger, scoring 181 tries in 145 games. By his second season at Widnes, Offiah's performance was rewarded with selection for the Great Britain national team
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
and the prestigious Man of Steel award.
During the 1989–90 Rugby Football League season, Offiah he played for defending champions Widnes on the wing in their 1989 World Club Challenge
1989 World Club Challenge
The 1989 World Club Challenge was the third ever and first official World Club Challenge match. 1989's NSWRL season premiers, the Canberra Raiders traveled to England to play against 1988–89 RFL champions, Widnes.The match was played on Wednesday, 4 October at Old Trafford, Manchester...
victory against the visiting Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
.
Wigan
Offiah joined WiganWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
in January 1992 for a world record fee of £440,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £868,000 in 2009). This figure remained a record for a total cash transfer until Wigan beat their own record, paying £450,000 for Stuart Fielden
Stuart Fielden
Stuart Fielden is an English professional rugby league footballer for Wigan of Super League...
from the Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
in 2006.
Playing on the wing, Offiah formed a devastating partnership with Gene Miles
Gene Miles
Gene Miles is a retired Australian rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative centre, he played his club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership before joining the Brisbane Broncos whom he captained.-BRL:A...
in his first season at Wigan scoring 30 tries in just 15 games including setting a new club record of ten in a single match against Leeds in the Premiership semi-final in May.
He was selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand.
During the 1992–93 Rugby Football League season Offiah played on the wing for defending RFL champions Wigan in the 1992 World Club Challenge
1992 World Club Challenge
The 1992 World Club Challenge match was contested by the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan and the 1992 NSWRL season's premiers, the Brisbane Broncos...
against the visiting Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
.
Offiah played in four Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
wins, five Championship teams, three Regal Trophy
Regal Trophy
The Regal Trophy was a knock-out competition for British rugby league football clubs between 1971 and 1996.It was initially for professional clubs with the exception of two amateur teams who were finalists of the BARLA National Cup...
wins and one Lancashire Cup
Rugby league county cups
Historically, British rugby league clubs competed for the Lancashire Cup and the Yorkshire Cup, known collectively as the county cups. The leading rugby clubs in Yorkshire had played in a cup competition for several years prior to the schism of 1895...
victory. He twice won the Lance Todd Trophy at Wembley. His 90 metre solo try in the 1994 Challenge Cup Final win over Leeds is remembered as one of the finest ever but he made a habit of such runs during his career. After the 1993–94 Rugby Football League season Offiah travelled with defending champions Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
to Brisbane, playing on the wing in their 1994 World Club Challenge
1994 World Club Challenge
The 1994 MMI World Club Challenge was a replay of the 1992 World Club Challenge, with 1993–94 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan facing the 1993 NSWRL season premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, this time in Australia. Wigan were clearly the dominant club in the English game, having won the...
victory over Australian premiers, the Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
.
Offiah made a total of 158 appearances for Wigan with another single appearance as a substitute. He scored more than a try a game, crossing the line 186 times. He also managed a goal and 3 drop goals thus scoring a grand total of 749 points for the club.
Pogus Caesar
Pogus Caesar is a British artist, television producer and director. He was born in St Kitts, West Indies, and grew up in Birmingham, England.-History:...
for Carlton TV UK as part of the Respect TV series
Respect (TV series)
Respect was a ground breaking seven part documentary television series featuring some of the biggest names in British sport and was broadcast each Sunday at 5.00pm on Central Independent Television during November/December 1995....
.
Later career
When the game made the switch to summer rugby in 1996, Offiah played in only ten games before moving to the London Broncos. He appointed MBEOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the New Year Honours 1997
New Year Honours 1997
The New Year Honours 1997 for the United Kingdom and Hong Kong were announced on 31 December 1996, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 1997....
and also played for London in their 1999 Challenge Cup final defeat against Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
. After this he moved to Salford for the 2000 season, staying for two seasons. He finished his career with London Wasps in Rugby Union.
In 2004 Offiah was one of the celebrities who took part in the first series of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's successful show Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
, reaching fourth place with his partner Erin Boag
Erin Boag
Erin Boag is a professional ballroom dancer. She has danced from the age of three, originally starting ballet and later moving into ballroom, Latin and jazz...
. In 2005 alongside Natasha Kaplinsky
Natasha Kaplinsky
Natasha Margaret Kaplinsky is a British newsreader and television presenter, currently employed by ITV having previously worked for Channel 5, Sky News and the BBC...
, he hosted the one-off special, Strictly African Dancing.
He currently works as a pundit for Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
rugby league coverage. He was a regular studio guest during the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
, and he presents a weekly Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
round up on Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News is a 24-hour sports news channel in the United Kingdom. It is run by BSkyB whose sports channels include Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as Sky Sports HD1, HD2, HD3 and HD4....
.
Offiah is also the agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
for Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
scrum half Richie Myler
Richie Myler
Richie Myler is an England International Rugby League player for the Warrington Wolves of Super League. He plays as a scrum-half....
and Kyle Eastmond
Kyle Eastmond
Kyle Eastmond is a professional rugby union footballer who currently plays for Bath, and has played for St. Helens in Super League and internationally for England. Eastmond has been compared to Australian international Scott Prince, because of his darting runs to the line and a good kicking game....
of St Helens.
Personal life
Offiah has 2 sons with his partner Virginia Shaw and lives in West London.In 2006 he appeared on a Reality TV Special of The Weakest Link, winning £10,050 and splitting the winnings with Danniella Westbrook
Danniella Westbrook
Danniella Westbrook is an English actress and television presenter. She is known for being the original actress to play Samantha Mitchell in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders from 1990–93, 1995–96, 1999–2000 and 2009–10. Away from EastEnders she has presented various shows, and was also a...
. Only once in the game did Martin get a single vote, and statistically was the strongest link in round six.
Representative career
Only eight players have ever scored drop goals for EnglandEngland national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
, they are; John Keith Bridges
John Keith Bridges
John H. Keith Bridges is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s who at representative level played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Featherstone Rovers, playing at , i.e...
(1), George Fairbairn
George Fairbairn (rugby league)
George Fairbairn is a Scottish former rugby league footballer and coach. He played club football for Wigan, winning the Man of Steel Award in 1980. Fairbairn was also the fullback and goal-kicker for the Great Britain national team, however he represented the English national team several times,...
(1), Bobbie Goulding
Bobbie Goulding
Bobbie Goulding is an English rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently the French national team's head coach....
(1), Sean Long
Sean Long
Sean Long is an English former professional rugby league and current rugby union footballer with Preston Grasshoppers. He has played for Wigan, Widnes and Hull but is best known for playing for St Helens in the Super League. Internationally he has represented England and Great Britain at /...
(1), Martin Offiah (1), Harry Pinner
Harry Pinner
Harry Pinner is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for St. Helens, Widnes, and Bradford Northern, playing at /, i.e...
(2), Alan Redfearn
Alan Redfearn
Alan Redfearn is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Bradford Northern, playing at /, i.e...
(1), and Nigel Wright
Nigel Wright (rugby league)
Nigel Wright is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s, and coach of the 2010s, who at representative level has played for England, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity, Wigan, and Huddersfield Giants, playing at , or , i.e...
(1).
Along with James "Jim" Leytham
Jim Leytham
James "Jim" Leytham was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1890s, 1900s and '10s who at representative level played for Great Britain, England, and Lancashire, and at club level for Lancaster, and Wigan, playing at , i.e...
, Stanley "Stan" Moorhouse
Stanley Moorhouse
Stan Moorhouse was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1910s and '20s who at representative level played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Huddersfield, and Bradford Northern playing at , i.e...
, Peter Norburn
Peter Norburn
Peter Norburn is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1950s and '60s who at representative level has played for England, and at club level for Swinton, playing at , or , i.e...
, Keith Fielding
Keith Fielding
Keith John Fielding is an English former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, '70s and '80s who at representative level has played rugby union for England, and at club level for Moseley Rugby Football Club, playing at Wing, i.e...
, Stuart Wright
Stuart Wright
Stuart Wright is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, 70s and '80s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Wigan, and Widnes, playing at , i.e...
, and Sam Tomkins
Sam Tomkins
A pre-season unofficial friendly match provided Tomkins his first experience against top-flight opposition as he came off the bench during Lee Briers' testimonial match in a 30–22 loss to Warrington Wolves. Noble followed this up by providing Tomkins, aged 19, with his first team debut on 12 May...
, having scored four tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
, Martin Offiah jointly holds the record for the most tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
scored in an England match.