Blahoslav Novak joins Telford Tigers
Telford Tigers will have a Slovakian flavour in their ranks next season after signing UK-trained forward Blahoslav Novak.
English Premier League rules state clubs can sign only four foreign-trained players, but 21-year-old Novak learned his trade in Chelmsford.
He began playing in Eastern Europe in 2011 and has impressed with 89 points in 115 games in the tough Slovakian Under-20s league.
But his formative years in the UK mean he is classed as a home-grown player.
And Tigers head coach Tom Watkins is delighted to have secured his services.
"Blaho is someone we have been aware of for a long time," he said.
"We are trying to get certain players for specific roles and he likes to play a gritty, physical game.
"He ticks all the boxes for us and is a big kid who's still hungry. That is fantastic and I am really happy to have him on board."
Novak's time in the UK saw him collect 111 points in 75 ENL senior games, while still a teenager.
And during 22 matches in the England Under-18s league, he plundered an impressive 62 points.
