Betfred Women’s Super League outfit York Valkyrie have signed Ugandan centre or back rower, Peace Lekuru, thanks to support from Squad Builder!
The 25-year old is a trailblazer for Ugandan Rugby League, becoming the first player from the country to sign for a team in the top-tier division of women’s rugby league in England.
The move has come from the Valkyrie’s support of the development of the sport in Uganda.
Valkyrie Director of Rugby, Lindsay Anfield has been involved with introducing rugby league to Africa since 2006, when she joined the charity, the Tag Rugby Trust for a tour to Zambia.
Over the past 20 years, Anfield’s led six tours to Uganda and Kenya. The most recent was in 2023 when a partnership between York RLFC and Uganda Rugby League was set up, seeing twelve players from the Valkyrie travelling to help coach and support URL around the time of their season finals.
Lekuru was a Tag Tugby Trust graduate and later became a TRT leader, while also pursuing her own career in rugby union and league.
She led the Entebbe Baleen to victory in the URL finals in 2023.
Anfield said: “‘Peace has been on our radar since we saw her compete in Ugandan national finals in 2023, when the Valkyrie went on tour to Uganda.
“She is an experienced rugby player, strong and athletic, with the desire to compete at the highest level.
“To see her in a Valk shirt is a poignant moment for our Club, who have been in partnership with Uganda RL for the past three years.
“She is a real trailblazer for African women’s rugby, and fully embraces her role as an inspiration for those who will follow in her footsteps. We are delighted to be able to bring her on this journey to York.”
Lekuru could make her York debut this weekend at the Women’s Nines Festival.
