Tyler Offiah could be thrown in at deep end with Bath as he sets ‘very ambitious’ Premiership and England record goals
Martin Offiah has a picture taken with his son, Tyler.
Tyler Offiah could be in line for a shock Premiership debut for injury-hit Bath in Saturday’s crunch derby with rivals Bristol Bears at the Recreation Ground.
The 18-year-old wing, the son of rugby league great Martin ‘Chariots’ Offiah who scored 501 career tries, joined Bath on a senior Academy contract this summer but has already made an impression at first-team level.
He scored a try on his first senior appearance in the pre-season friendly win over Munster on August 31 and was recently included in the latest England U20 squad.
Bath injury concerns
Although the imposing teenager, who stands 6ft 3in, is seen as a long-term prospect, Bath‘s injury crisis may now see him called upon this weekend for his first senior competitive appearance.
Joe Cokanasiga was forced off with a head knock after just 16 minutes of Sunday’s 20-15 win at Leicester Tigers and, having failed a Head Injury Assessment, he will miss the Bristol clash due to concussion protocols.
Fellow wide man Will Muir – Bath’s other first-choice winger – limped off early in the second half at Welford Road with a knee injury and seems certain to be sidelined this weekend.
Speaking after the win at Leicester, Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said: “Obviously Joe Cokanasiga failed his HIA so that means he won’t be back next week.
“Will Muir we will get some more info on but it looked innocuous and he just fell down, so that is a definite knee issue.
“You worry when they are non-contact injuries and we will take our time understanding it, but it seems we will be without both our wingers for next week.”
Van Graan has various options to cover the absence of Cokanasiga and Muir, but with former St Helens winger Regan Grace still sidelined following hamstring injury, he may be tempted to give throw Offiah in at the deep end.
The teenager competed his A-Levels in PE, Mathematics and Economics at Wellington College earlier this summer and recently began studying for a degree at the University of Bath.
His academic commitments run alongside his rugby commitments at Bath Rugby, who he chose to join ahead of a raft of other clubs.
Gloucester, Leicester, Sale Sharks and Wigan Warriors all showed interest in signing him, but Bath got his vote.
Offiah joined the Premiership title hopefuls from the London and South Central academy, which was formed following the demise of London Irish last year and is funded by the Rugby Football Union.
He previously attended St Benedict’s School and has also played for Ealing Trailfinders.
After helping England U18s to three wins from three in the Six Nations Rugby Festival in Italy in April, Offiah spoke of how highly motivated he is to succeed at Bath.
He said: “I’m definitely very ambitious, I’ve got all my goals written down in a journal.
“They include playing for the senior England side, going on a British and Irish Lions tour, and becoming the highest try-scorer in Premiership history.
“Chris Ashton – who my father got to send me a video message wishing me well in my career – has the Premiership record with over 100 tries but I’d love to beat that.
“Rory Underwood has the England record with 49 and I want to surpass that too.
Setting the bar high
“I’m definitely aiming for the very top. If you’re not, what are you even doing?”
Tyler, who has also worked as a model, is a keen follower of rugby league’s NRL and American Football.
He added: “I played league for Richmond Warriors for a few summers when I was younger.
“I watch a lot of NRL games and I’m a Brisbane Broncos fan, so if that’s ever an option in the future then it’s definitely something I would consider.
“I look at what Louis Rees-Zammit is doing in the NFL as well.
“I play a bit of American Football for the London Blitz – I’m a wide receiver – so that’s another option for the future.
“I’m settled in rugby union at the moment, but I definitely like the look of NRL and NFL one day.”
Offiah admitted his father’s legendary exploits have inspired him, saying: “I don’t actually know what trophies Dad won, but I know he scored 501 tries.
“I’ve seen the highlight reels and people say to me ‘you don’t know half the stuff this guy’s done’ and that’s true.
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“I’ve never watched a full game of you playing, only clips, but it’s definitely inspiring.
“One of my aims is to be better than Dad. Yes, that’s definitely a driver for me.”
Offiah senior’s exploits with all-conquering Wigan in the early 1990s earned him a huge collection of winners’ medals, legendary status in the 13-a-side code and an MBE from Buckingham Palace.
Outside Wembley Stadium, he is immortalised in a bronze statue which features four other all-time league greats in Eric Ashton, Billy Boston, Alex Murphy and Gus Risman.
Martin, whose deadly finishing earned him the nickname ‘Chariots Offiah’, says the two codes are in a different state to when he played.
He said: “Rugby union is highly professional nowadays but it wasn’t like that in my era, hence why I moved north to play rugby league.
“Tyler’s a totally different winger to me – far bigger and more powerful than I ever was.
“We’re on our separate journeys and Tyler is making his way in rugby union, so obviously people are going to ask him ‘are you as fast as your dad?’
“That’s a bit frustrating for Tyler but it’s just the lie of the land.
“I’ve certainly got a wealth of knowledge I can pass on to Tyler and he is learning from his England and Bath coaches as well.
“I always say ‘take bits of information that you like, and what you don’t like you don’t take’.
“Then you definitely become your own man and not a clone of anybody. Am I proud of what Tyler is doing? Very much so.”
Last Wednesday, Offiah Jnr made a try-scoring debut for the University of Bath in their 40-27 win over Durham University.
Their next BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Super Rugby fixture sees them take on Loughborough away this Wednesday.
It remains to be seen if Offiah will feature, though, with the prospect of him playing some part against Bristol on Saturday at the Rec a distinct possibility.
Even if this weekend comes too soon for him, it is clear that Offiah’s star is on the rise.