Martin Offiah: Rugby League’s Iconic Try-Scoring Legend and His Son’s Rugby Union Pathway
Martin Offiah is widely regarded as one of the greatest try-scorers in the history of rugby league. The legendary former winger’s feats in the cherry and white jersey have cemented his status as an iconic figure at Wigan Warriors.
However, Offiah’s son, Tyler, will not be following in his father’s footsteps to join the reigning Super League champions. The highly-rated 17-year-old is set to remain in rugby union and has instead secured a three-year contract with Premiership giants Bath starting this summer, upon completion of his A-Levels.
The prospect of a move to Wigan was raised as Tyler, a Wellington College student and keen NRL follower with a particular fondness for the Brisbane Broncos, assessed his options. Several big Gallagher Premiership clubs, including Sale Sharks, Leicester Tigers, and Gloucester, also showed interest in the imposing young prospect.
Tyler actually trained with both Sale and Wigan, and visited Leicester and Bath as various opportunities were presented to him. Ultimately, he has decided to join Bath, where he has been offered a place to study Politics and International Relations at the University of Bath starting in September.
The prodigy, who is currently working towards his A-Levels in PE, Mathematics, and Economics, follows the progress of players like England winger Dom Young, who has made a big impact in the NRL. Offiah Jr. commented on his development, saying, “I’m definitely developing physically – I’m just over 6ft 3in but with my afro out I’m about 6ft 5in! Weight-wise, a couple of months ago I was probably 91kg and now I’m around 97, 98 kgs. But I’m still able to move and my main thing right now is my speed.”
Recently, Tyler spent 13 days in camp with the England Under-18s for the Six Nations U18s Men’s Festival, the first to be hosted in Italy. He scored in two of the three games the team won against Wales, Scotland, and Georgia. The young talent, who initially played in the centres before transitioning to the wing, is determined to forge his own path in professional rugby, inspired by his father’s remarkable career.
As Tyler Offiah embarks on his rugby union journey with Bath, the rugby league community will eagerly follow the progress of this talented prodigy, whose lineage is undoubtedly a source of immense inspiration.
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