Uganda Rugby Cranes stars Benon Kizza and Phillip Pariyo who disappeared after last year’s Commonwealth Games have been found, playing for a small club in Wales.
The two rugby sevens players went missing after the closing ceremony in Glasgow, last August.
According to Waleonline.co.uk, the pair have been discovered playing for St Peter’s RFC in Cardiff, while they seek asylum to remain in Britain.
The Club’s chairman Joe Sweeney was quoted saying: “We have gone through all the bureaucratic procedures and they are signed as St Peter’s players.”
Pariyo played on Saturday and scored two tries while Kizza was subbed and was on the bench.
Kizza and Pariyo moved into a hotel that was housing asylum seekers near the rugby club’s playing field when the rest of the Ugandan contingent including gold medalist Moses Kipsiro flew back to the country.
After the hotel residents were given permission to play football on the club’s rugby field, one of the Ugandans approached club officials and asked about trying out for the team.
“It was noticed he was an extra-gifted rugby player and we spoke to him about why he was here. It transpired he had been at the Commonwealth Games, playing for Uganda, and he and his mate decided to seek asylum. ‘There was a bit of bureaucracy, but we have signed them now.” Sweeney said.
Kizza and Pariyo, who were rumoured to be working in a Glasgow car wash after vanishing at the Games, are said to currently be working for a valeting firm.
The Uganda Rugby Union did not take the news of the pair playing rugby for the Welsh club lightly.
Rugby Cranes coach Yayiro Kasasa said: “You have to clear people through International Rugby to play for another club. But in this case they have found their way to the team they are playing for.”
