RECORD BREAKING rugby league winger Martin Offiah has been tipped for international honours at union following his move toe Bedford.

Within hours of making a winning debut for the Super League club London Broncos, Offiah relaunched his union career by signing a four year contract with ambitious second division club.

Offiah said: "I'm extremely excited by the move. The return to rugby union provides me with a number of ambitions and challenges both at club and international level, while I can also retain my links with rugby league with the London Broncos.

"I hope my performances for Bedford will provide the perfect stage for me to impress the England and British Lions selectors," he said.

Former England coach Geoff Cooke, Bedford's director of rugby, said: "It's a spectacular signing. Martin's obviously a very hot property now in terms of bringing something really special and exciting to rugby union.

"Providing he readjusts to the slightly different demands of rugby union quite quickly, I would think he's got a very good chance of getting into the England team."

Fran Cotton, manager of the British Lions team to South Africa next year, said: "It's an immense signing in terms of Bedford and rugby union. Of all the players coming back, this is the biggest.

"The fact that a player of this kind of quality is willing to play, rugby at Bedford is down to the new regime at Bedford - they've given the club a new focus.

"He's obviously a very talented player and we've got to see how he resettles into rugby union. But, if he can produce the kind of form that he's done consistently at Wigan, then he's going to be a strong contender for England and the Lions.

"Rugby union's a different game, but certainly with his athletic talents I'd be surprised if he isn't as much a success in rugby union as he was in league - providing we give him the ball."

Offiah (29), who has topped the league try scoring charts in six of his nine seasons in the game, will play out the rest of the Super League season and then play for Bedford in their opening Courage League encounter with Nottingham on September 7th.

But Offiah could be in big demand with his Bedford stint clashing with a rugby league tour to New Zealand in the autumn and the 1997 British Lions tour coming during the Broncos Super League campaign.

London chairman Barry Maranta admitted at Saturday's news conference to announce Offiah's transfer that there were still some issues to be resolved.

When asked about the potential conflict at this morning's news conference in Bedford, Offiah and his manager, Alan McColm, referred the question to Frank Warren, who said: "He is here to play rugby union and, if any problem arises, we will sort it out at the time. But I want to be positive about this whole thing."

Bedford chief executive Bob Burrows said: "I have had discussions with the Broncos and with the Super League and we have agreed that, if any problem arises, we will all get together and sort it out for the benefit of the Broncos, Bedford, the Super League and Martin Offiah."

Bedford also announced the acquisition of former England and Wasps prop Jeff Probyn and Cardiff full back Mike Rayer, who was capped 20 times by Wales.

. South Africa have been forced by injury to make three changes to the side to meet New Zealand in the final Tri nations Test in Cape Town on Saturday.

Prop Marius Hurter, centre Hennie le Roux and lock Steve Atherton were named as replacements for injured trio Balie Swart, Brendan Venter and Johan Ackermann when the team was announced yesterday.

The rest of the side is unchanged from the one which recorded a 25-19 victory over Australia in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

New Zealand have already won the Tri nations series while the Springboks need a point to avoid finishing bottom of the inaugural competition.