- Found guilty of embezzling corporate assets at French rugby club
- Sentenced in absentia to five years in prison in absentia
- He had previously been ordered to repay $1.1 million.
An international arrest warrant has been issued for former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom following his sentencing by a French court.
Elsom was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for embezzlement of corporate assets during his tenure as president of French rugby club Narbonne, according to lawyer Patrick Tabet.
The charges relate to Elsom’s time in Narbonne between 2015 and 2016, where he was charged with forgery and ordered to repay €705,000 ($A1.1 million).
The allegations include paying €79,000 (AUD128,000) to a former coach without justification and hiring someone from Australia for €7,200 (AUD11,500) a month who provided no services to the club.
The court gave Elsom a two-year sentence longer than the one requested by the prosecutor.
An international warrant has been issued against former Australian Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom.
Elsom was convicted of embezzlement of corporate assets and sentenced in absentia to five years in prison by a French court.
Narbonne, historically successful with championships in 1936 and 1979, faced financial difficulties and was placed into liquidation in 2018.
The club was acquired by Australian investment fund FGM in 2011, involving figures such as Bob Dwyer and David Gibson, neither of whom are involved in the case.
Elsom, a major FGM shareholder, previously told SBS: ‘We needed to make savings on 17 contracts. I wasn’t the most popular person in town at the time.
Recently, Elsom re-emerged in Ireland, giving an interview to the Sunday Times while training at the Catholic University School in Dublin.
“I’m recovering from an injury and this is a good place to do it,” he said at the time.
The former Wallabies captain played 75 Test matches for the Wallabies, 22 as captain.
Elsom left his construction business in Queensland and said: “I’ve got people there who are very good.” “They don’t need me right now, so I’m happy about that.”
In the same interview, Elsom mentioned failing to inform his former Leinster teammates of his presence in Dublin.
However, he was due to attend a Leinster match against Munster in Croke Park as a guest.
Elsom’s time with Leinster was memorable and led them to their first Heineken Cup title in 2009. Elsom was named player of the match in the final against Leicester Tigers.
Elsom’s rugby career includes 75 test matches for the Wallabies, 22 as captain.
He started out in rugby league with the Canterbury Bulldogs before moving into union, playing for the Waratahs and Brumbies and finding success with Leinster.
Former Waratahs coach Matt Williams, who also worked with Narbonne, expressed his disappointment at the club’s decline.
‘Rugby there is the entire community; These small provincial towns are rugby towns.’ said.
“In the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, these were the powerhouses of French rugby… I’m delighted that justice has been done, absolutely delighted.
‘It has destroyed the community, it has broken their hearts. Some of those old guys who gave their lives to the club… saw outsiders come in and destroy the club.