Martin Offiah is a rugby legend. In addition to his great successes at club level, being one of only eight players to score a drop goal, he has also stood out on the international stage and currently jointly holds the record for the most tries scored in any England national rugby league team match. Martin Offiah is available to appear at private and corporate events via MN2S celebrity booking agency.
Offiah was born to Nigerian parents in London and represented his school in a number of different sports in addition to rugby, such as fencing and cricket. He made his first rugby union appearance for Rosslyn Park, and his performance generated buzz about his potential to play for the national team. Offiah began his professional career with Widnes where his exceptional speed earned him a great deal of attention. His agility and pace would later earn the nickname “Chariots” Offiah; a pun of the 1981 film “Chariots of Fire”. This incredible skill ensured that Offiah created a formidable reputation for himself, and he was the most talked about winger since Billy Boston.
His efforts with Widnes, leading them to victory in both the Championship and Premiership, meant he ended the 1987-1988 season as the league’s top try scorer, breaking the original record – something he would repeat the following year. He went on to receive the Man of Steel award for his contribution and also won a place in the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia. It was at Wigan, however, that Offiah struck up a successful partnership with Gene Miles on the rugby field, setting new club records for scoring. Arriving on the back of a world record fee of £440,000, Offiah made a total of 158 appearances for his club and scored more than one try in every game he played – a tally of 186 in total. In addition to his time spent at Wigan and Widnes, Offiah also played for London and Salford and for the Australian teams of Eastern Suburbs and St. George.
Offiah is currently retired, but he continues to remain involved in rugby through his work as an analyst and commentator for Sky Sports rugby league coverage. A biography was written about Offiah in 1993, entitled Offiah: A Blaze of Glory and he was also the subject of a documentary in 1995. Additionally, he was awarded an MBE in 1997.
However, it is Offiah’s most recent honour that may be his greatest yet. On the 120th anniversary of the founding of rugby (August of this year) Offiah was one of five heroes from the world of rugby who were chosen to be immortalized by a bronze statue (sculpted by Stephen Winterburn) outside Wembley Stadium. A panel of rugby coaches and players as well as fans and sports journalists chose the five men for the honour. Martin Offiah stands beside Alex Murphy OBE, Billy Boston MBE, Eric Ashton MBE and Gus Risman, with the group being described by Nigel Wood (RLIF Chairman) as all having contributed to ‘the rich history of the sport’ and that the statue celebrates ‘every generation of the sport’. Offiah commented on the historic occasion, explaining how what the honour means: “I’ve got a lot of affection for this stadium, some of my greatest moments happened here,” he said. “To have it at the national stadium, too, is beyond anything you could ever dream of.”
Offiah has had a truly exceptional career, and he continues to influence the sport. The statue at Wembley only adds to his illustrious legacy, ensuring that his name will continue to be celebrated in successive generations. If you would like to enquire about booking the exceptional talent that is Martin Offiah, please contact MN2S Agency in London.