Two Romanian rugby players walked out on their squad after the team lost their European Shield match in Galway against Connacht over the weekend.
A statement from the Romanian Rugby Union Federation (FRR) president, Mr Sorin Fuicu, said: "Young players Daniel Lazarescu and Adrian Ghita stayed back in Galway, refusing to get on the bus taking the team to Dublin airport."
He said he did not know why they had walked out and claimed they could be banned from playing in their country if their club, Steaua Bucharest, complained to the FRR.
The Department of Justice, the Romanian embassy and the Garda said they had no evidence of their applying for asylum.