French customs were duped by 14 illegal immigrants from Morocco after they set up a 'false' rugby club and were awarded visas to enter France to take on amateur side Graulhet, a French consular official here told the news agency AFPtoday.
The club, named the Star of Oujda, managed to get an invitation for 23 'players' to take on the Graulhet rugby club in the Tarn region of southwest France. They were even offered financial aid to make the trip for two friendlies to be played in June last year.
"We were conned," admitted Graulhet president Francis Piquemel, whose club had laid on a reception and booked accommodation for their visitors.
The Graulhet club official who organised the visit, Patrice Martinez, said: "We waited for them all afternoon and evening.
"Two days later, believing that the Moroccans had let us down, we contacted the French consulate in Fez... to cancel the invitation."
Only 14 of the 'players' actually left Morocco but none of them ever arrived in the Tarn. Their whereabouts are unknown.
Graulhet did receive a phone call later to explain that the son of the president of Star of Oujda had died and the club had decided to stay at home.
The Moroccan rugby federation (FRMR) said they had never heard of the club. -AFP