RUGBY players in Uganda are enjoying a bright new era thanks to the generosity of York residents and Press readers.

Last autumn, we published an appeal by Robert Powell, a Poppleton ex-pat coaching teams in Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Mr Powell was overwhelmed by donations of boots, balls, tops and training outfits, and Entebbe Rugby Club is now looking to the future.

He said the men’s team, knows as the Mongers, is second in its league with five wins, one draw and one defeat from its first seven matches this season.

He added: “The junior rugby is being well attended during the school holidays with upwards of 25 11-16 year olds turning up regularly. The girls are also training well but are not getting enough match time as there are only four ladies’ teams in Uganda.”

Mr Powell attended Nunthorpe Grammar School but left York in 1983 to join the military, then moved to Africa with the United Nations in 2001.

He has been in Uganda since 2009 and appealed in The Press and on Radio York in August, asking for donations to help equip his team.

He said the club would always be on the look-out for more kit, boots and equipment and would be interested in hearing from anyone interested in helping or who can cover transportation costs in the future. Anyone able to help should email rugbybootsuganda@yahoo.com

He also hopes to help raise £20,000 to set up a community rugby centre for local youngsters on land donated by the Mayor of Entebbe, possibly through a sportsman’s dinner.