Martin Offiah

Martin Nwokocha Offiah MBE (/əˈfiə/ ə-FEE-ə (original pronunciation), /əˈfaɪə/ ə-FYE-ə (commonly used)); born 29 December 1965) is an English former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Offiah was inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2013. He scored over 500 tries during his rugby league career, making him the third-highest try scorer (and top try-scoring English player) of all time, and now features in a statue of great rugby league players outside Wembley Stadium.

Martin Offiah
MBE
Personal information
Full nameMartin Nwokocha Offiah
Born (1965-12-29) 29 December 1965
Hackney, London, England
Playing information
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight14 st 5 lb (91 kg)
Rugby league
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1987–91 Widnes 145 181 0 0 724
1989 Eastern Suburbs 12 9 0 0 36
1991 St George Dragons 14 11 0 0 44
1992–95 Wigan 159 186 1 3 749
1993 Eastern Suburbs 1 0 0 0 0
1996–99 London Broncos 48 36 0 0 144
2000–01 Salford City Reds 45 23 0 2 94
Total 424 446 1 5 1791
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1992–96 England 5 8 0 1 33
1988–94 Great Britain 33 26 0 0 104
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1996–97 Bedford Blues 14 8 0 0 40
2001–02 London Wasps 8 5 0 0 25
Total 22 13 0 0 65
Source:

He was a Great Britain and England national representative winger, and due to his running speed he was nicknamed "Chariots" Offiah after the film Chariots of Fire while playing amateur rugby union at Rosslyn Park. Offiah played for English rugby league clubs Widnes, Wigan, London Broncos and Salford City Reds, and in Australia for Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and St. George clubs.

It is believed that the England rugby anthem "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was first sung at Twickenham while Offiah was playing in the Middlesex Sevens in 1987.

Since retiring Offiah has appeared on several reality TV shows. In May 2023, he was appointed official Ambassador of Wigan Warriors.

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