London--Two Ugandan rugby players who claimed asylum in Britain after representing their country at the 2014 Commonwealth Games have reappeared playing for a local team in Wales, the club's chairman said Monday.
Benon Kizza and Philip Pariya deserted the national team after the games in Glasgow in August and were housed in a hostel near St Peter's Rugby Club in Cardiff as their asylum requests were being processed.
Described by chairman Joe Sweeney as "particularly pacey", the two players caught the club's eye after being given permission to practice on their ground following a request by officials from a Welsh government body tasked with reducing poverty.
"They've definitely got great potential," the chairman told AFP, adding that they could one day play at a higher level.
Sweeney said that their asylum applications on political grounds had been successful and that they had been signed up to play for the amateur club on a season-by-season basis.
The two players, both wingers, have made a handful of appearances between them with Pariya scoring two tries.
At the time of their defection, Ugandan sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi vowed to "find them and make sure that they return home".
Ugandan rugby coach Yayiro Kasasa has accused them of breaking the national team's code of conduct.
Uganda beat Sri Lanka during the Glasgow games, but were heavily beaten by both Australia and England.
Both World Rugby, the sport's international governing body, and the Welsh Rugby Union declined to comment.
AFP
