Albanian-born prop earns Quins deal

Albanian born prop Olsi Krasniqi has been handed a two year contract after impressing in his debut season.

The 18 year old was invited to train with the first team for the 2010 season and made his Super League debut in June against the Crusaders before going on to play eight more games in the top flight.

Olsi began playing rugby league in Feltham just down the road from The Twickenham Stoop and worked his way through the club’s youth development programme.

Born to Albanian parents he said: “I’m really pleased to have signed with Harlequins RL, I don’t want to go anywhere else and I have been working hard to earn a squad number since I was 15 years old.”

Rob Powell was impressed with the way the teenager handled himself in the fierce environment that is a rugby league front row. “For a young man in a tough position Olsi came through the season with a lot of credibility,” he said. “The benefit of full time training will only help as he develops and it will help him push for a first team place again.”