Super League Legend is the first PROBIZ Rugby League Ambassador.
Martin "Chariots" Offiah MBE (born 29 December 1965 in London, England) is an English former rugby league and, briefly, rugby union footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s.
He is also known as 'Chariots' Offiah after the film 'Chariots of Fire'.
Since retiring Offiah has also provided commentary for Sky Sports rugby league coverage and worked as a player agent.
Offiah was spotted by Widnes coach Doug Laughton playing in the Middlesex Sevens and was "brought North" to play Rugby League for the 1987-88 season. It was at Widnes were he forged his reputation as a devastating winger scorching in for 181 tries in 145 games.
By his second season at Widnes, Offiah's performance was rewarded with selection for Great Britain and the prestigious Man of Steel award.
Offiah joined Wigan in January 1992 for a world record fee of £440,000 (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £792,000 in 2007).
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.
Martin became a real showman and character of the game, often infuriating opponents when he raced past them waving goodbye, goose stepping when clear or nodding in celebration with team-mate Shaun Edwards. He had a great eye for a try, often racing the length of the field to score a try.
He played in Wigan's World Club Challenge win over the Brisbane Broncos in 1994, 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.
Offiah made a total of 158 appearances for Wigan with another single appearance as a substitute. He notched up more than a try a game, crossing the line 186 times. He also managed a goal and 3 drop goals thus bagging 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.
He was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours 1997 and also played for London in their 1999 Challenge Cup final defeat to 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.
Offiah has posed nude in the women's magazines For Women and Cosmopolitan!!!
In 2004 Offiah was one of the celebrities taking 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. Martin attended the 2006 Challenge Cup final between St. Helens and Huddersfield at Twickenham as special guest of the Rugby Football League (RFL).
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.
Martin is one of the Country's most talented Legends within his own sport and we are delighted he chose PROBIZ as a company he wishes to partner with.
