Benon Kizza and Phillip Pariyo, the two Ugandan Rugby players who vanished after the 2014 commonwealth games in Scotland last August have been taken on by Welsh Rugby club St. Peter’s RFC in Cardiff.
The duo were not among the contingent that arrived at Entebbe International airport when the Uganda Rugby Cranes sevens team returned from Glasgow and it was believed they joined a friend then to work at a washing bay in Cumbernauld, a town 14 miles to the north east of Glasgow.
New details now reveal the players applied for asylum and were eventually granted stay in the United Kingdom. The two players were housed near St. Peter’s Field in a hotel for asylum seekers.
One of them approached the club’s staff telling them he had played ‘a bit’ of the sport. Both players were signed up and have even featured in some of the matches of the welsh Rugby side.
“We have actually signed them now and they are playing for us,” club chairman Joe Sweeney said this week.
“We have gone through all the bureaucratic procedures and everything and they are signed as St Peter’s players.
“Phillip played on Saturday and scored two tries. Benon was subbed and was on the bench.”
Sweeney further told Wales online that the players were signed after being approached by Communities First, a Welsh Government body focused on tackling poverty.
“Not far from our field is a hotel used to house asylum seekers,” Mr Sweeney said.
“I was approached by Communities First and asked if some of the asylum seekers could use our field to play football.”
“Because we are a community club we said yes,” Mr Sweeney said.
“One of the players approached our coach and mentioned he played a bit of rugby.
“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 while here he and his mate decided to seek asylum.”
St Peters moved to sign them. “There was a bit of bureaucracy but we have signed them now.”
According to the Mirror a newspaper in the U.K who spoke to an insider, they were found by the club when they were barely able to feed themselves.
“They are now eating better,” the insider said. “They were going a day-and-a-half without food.”
According to the source, the pair are missing their families desperately.
“The one guy, Benon, has a sick daughter,” the source said. “I don’t think the Welsh Rugby Union need a big hoo-ha about it. They do not want too many people looking into it.
“They are playing now because the WRU have given the OK.”
They are now staying at a house “we have done up for them”.
“We have given them everything for free and got them out of their housing mess,” the insider said. “They are working for a valeting firm on minimum wage and the people that own the house have been good to us.”
Ugandan Rugby Union is reported to have been unimpressed by the move after having blocked it earlier on when the body was approached by the Welsh club.
Ugandan Rugby coach Yayiro Kasasa said the club did not seek authority and clearance to use the players.
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. They thought it was right for them to stay and find a better way of living. We have never said no to anyone who wants to go out of rugby here but they have to seek the audience of the rugby union.
When International Rugby Board were contacted for a comment, they declined to comment but a source said: “This is likely to be a matter between the URU and the two players. Do they have the right to stop them playing? We don’t know.”
About St. Peter’s Rugby Football Club
St. Peter’s RFC is a Welsh Rugby Union team currently playing in division two East Central. The club plays their home games at the Harlequins Playing field, located off New Port Road.
They finished 4th in the 2013-2014 season and they are a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues, one of the professional Welsh regional rugby union teams also based in Cardiff.
Notable former Players
Billy Neill (the club’s first Welsh international)
Jack Brown (Welsh international)
Club Honours
Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy 1985-86 – Winners
2013-14 – Youth: Triple Winners of Blues A League, Cardiff & District Cup, East District Cup
