BRITISH police and immigration officials were on Thursday searching for 12 rugby players from Cote d’Ivoire after they absconded during an international under-19 tournament in south Wales. The men, who all speak French but little or no English, were due to fly out to the West African state from London’s Heathrow airport later on Thursday. A spokesperson for the Home Office’s immigration department warned that if they miss the flight, they could be classed as illegal immigrants. An immigration officer has been sent to Wales and is looking for the 12 with the help of the police, the Welsh Rugby Union and the Cote d’Ivoire team managers. The immigration spokesman said that apart from one unconfirmed sighting of a group of six of the players at a Cardiff police station, the whereabouts of the 12 is unknown. None has applied for asylum, he added.