Former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom has been sentenced to two years in prison by a French court for the improper use of corporate assets while serving as the president of the Narbonne rugby club. Additionally, he has been fined approximately $109,000, with half of this penalty suspended. The 42-year-old Elsom was absent from the court proceedings, and an arrest warrant has been issued for him, as he currently remains unaccounted for.
Having earned 75 caps for Australia between 2005 and 2011, Elsom was celebrated for his performance as a flanker. His term as president of Narbonne spanned from 2015 to 2016, during which he faced allegations of embezzling club funds to cover unapproved expenses related to a coach who was residing in Australia at the time. Although he was acquitted of forgery charges, he was ordered to compensate the club’s liquidator to the tune of €230,000.
During a trial last month, the prosecution sought a three-year prison term along with a significantly larger fine of $687,000. In a prior trial held in October of the previous year, Elsom was sentenced to five years in prison but failed to attend. An international arrest warrant was enacted following that conviction, and although he requested a retrial with legal representation, he again did not appear in court.
Despite the criminal proceedings, Elsom maintains that he is innocent of wrongdoing, claiming that the club had been well-managed and was financially stable during his presidency. Following the issuance of the arrest warrant, he fled Ireland, where he had been residing, stating he only had time to grab a backpack when he learned that his extradition to France was likely. He has voiced his belief that he has become a scapegoat for issues stemming from the club after his departure.
Narbonne Rugby, once a renowned club that has celebrated championship victories in the past, found itself in financial turmoil, leading to its liquidation in 2018. The club now operates in the third-tier Fédérale league. Elsom had been working as a coach in Dublin at the time the arrest warrant was issued, and in a recent interview, he expressed his surprise at being unaware of any ongoing legal action against him.
As legal proceedings unfold, the implications of Elsom’s case continue to reverberate through the rugby community.