Rugby: Offiah's double chance

Martin Offiah can look forward to the prospect of playing two top-level rugby league and rugby union games within 24 hours next week, and said yesterday: "I would like to think I am up to it."

Offiah is under contract to play league for the London Broncos and union for Bedford. On Friday week, he could face Warrington in the 13-man code and Rotherham in the 15-a-side game the next day.

The prospect does not hold any fears for the former Wigan player as he prepares for the launch of the Broncos Super League campaign against the defending champions, St Helens, on Sunday.

Offiah, who only joined the Broncos for training on Monday, said: "I would like to think I am up to the challenge. At this stage of my career it keeps everything very exciting for me. I still get the buzz out of scoring tries. I have had two days training already and I am very keen and very much looking forward to it. It's a bit like putting on an old glove - I seem to fit back into it quite well and hopefully that should show on Sunday.

"I think over the winter I have improved. I think my handling has definitely improved from last season. There is a lot less space in union because of the extra men on the field, but I hope with the extra space in league I will be able to get back to my old ways of getting the ball across the line regularly."

Tony Currie, the Broncos head coach, also has few reservations about Offiah's commitment to both of rugby's codes. "He'll give us his best and being a professional he will give rugby union his best as well. I am just happy to get him here," he said.

"He looks after his body, he trains well and he lives well so I have no qualms about him at all. I think he will make a big difference. He is still running around like a spring chicken. He has come back fresh, full of beans and surprisingly fit. I think he has had a break on the wing in rugby union."

The former Great Britain prop Kelvin Skerrett has agreed a new one-year contract with Halifax Blue Sox. Skerrett initially joined the Blue Sox on a short-term deal after his contract at Wigan was ended by mutual consent last year.