Albanian teenager Eliot Peposhi signs for St Helens

The 16-year-old, whose father Arbian played for Albania against the Great Britain Students in Tirana last year, has signed a two-year deal with the option for a third and will start out in Saints’ academy in 2020.

Peposhi said: “I’m very honoured and extremely grateful to St Helens for offering me the contract.

“They are a big club with so many honours and such a massive history. It is simply brilliant that I am now part of it.

“Now I need to push and work even harder as my ambitions are to play the game at the highest possible level and perhaps one day I can represent my heritage and be part of history with the Albania Rugby League team.“

President of Albania Rugby League Arnaldo Telo said: “It is a proud feeling because it shows that with the right passion and mindset, everything is achievable for any Albanian that is involved in rugby league here or abroad.

“I hope this is the first of many achievements for Albanian rugby league players and Eliot becomes an inspiration for a new generation.”