TRIBUTES have been paid in East Lancashire after a Welsh rugby international was killed in a car crash aged 20.

Ribchester-born Elli Norkett, who also played for the Welsh side Ospreys, was killed when her Toyota Yaris collided with a Vauxhall Insignia on the A4109, just north of Neath on Saturday.

She was a daughter of former Blackburn RUFC Kim Norkett, who also taught at Stonyhurst College.

Her family has described Elli, who was in her final year as a sports development undergraduate at Cardiff Met University, as “loved and valued by many”.

Mr Norkett, who now runs a publishing business after stints with the Welsh Rugby Union, said that their ‘little Eli’ lit up their lives.

His former colleagues at the Ramsgreave Drive club have also passed on their condolences to the family.

In a statement on his Facebook site, Mr Norkett said: “The support and heartwarming comments and media coverage about our little Elli have helped us as a family immeasurably and beyond words at this heartbreaking time.

“I don’t think any words or sentences can show the love that the Norkett family had for Elli Norkett, who not only ‘lit up rooms’, as a close friend of hers said yesterday, but lit up our lives now and forever more.”

Winger Elli was the youngest player in the Rugby World Cup in 2013, gaining four senior caps, and she also played sevens rugby for Great Britain Students and Wales.

In a further statement, released through South Wales Police, her family added: “Elli was loved and valued by many and has touched the hearts of all her family and friends due to her kind nature and endearing personality.

“The family wish to be allowed to grief in peace at this extremely distressing time.”

She had spoken of her ambitions to pursue a career in coaching, in rugby, following her studies.

An investigation is underway into the cause of the collision, between Banwen and Glynneath, which also saw a 42-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl in the Vauxhall car also suffering injuries.

A Blackburn RUFC spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with Kim and family at this sad time.”

A spokesman for Ospreys, where she was also a community coach, said: “At just 20-years old, she had her whole life in front of her.

“Not only was she a talented rugby player she was a good human being, probably the most important thing about her.”