In brief
French authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for ex-Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom after convicting him of embezzling €700,000 from RC Narbonne. Elsom was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for crimes committed during his presidency at the prestigious rugby club in 2015-16. Reports insist that Elsom made unjustified payments and misappropriated funds, leading to the club's downfall in 2018. Despite residing in Dublin and coaching rugby, Elsom now faces significant legal repercussions.
Former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom is facing legal troubles as a French court issues an international arrest warrant for embezzlement. Elsom, who led Australia's national rugby team in 75 matches, was convicted in absentia of misappropriating €700,000 during his tenure as president of RC Narbonne, a prestigious French rugby club. His actions reportedly contributed to the club's financial decline and its eventual relegation in 2018. Elsom had been living in Dublin, where he coached at a private school and intended to stay until December. The conviction includes abuse of corporate assets and document forgery, with allegations of unauthorized payments and salaries during his leadership. The court handed Elsom a harsher five-year prison sentence than the prosecution's initial two-year request, alongside a repayment order of the embezzled amount.
