Australian ex-rugby star Rocky Elsom has had an international arrest warrant issued against him by a French court following a conviction for embezzlement tied to his tenure as president of RC Narbonne. Found guilty in absentia, Elsom, who captained Australia's Wallabies and won the Heineken Cup with Leinster Rugby, allegedly misappropriated €700,000. The French court's decision includes a five-year prison sentence and restitution. Elsom, living in Dublin and coaching at a private school, has not made any public response to the conviction.
International Arrest Warrant Issued for Rugby Star Rocky Elsom
International Arrest Warrant Issued for Rugby Star Rocky Elsom
Former Australian rugby captain Rocky Elsom faces a five-year sentence in France for embezzlement.
Australian former rugby star Rocky Elsom is facing significant legal issues after French authorities issued an international arrest warrant for him. This is in response to his conviction for embezzlement and document forgery during his time as president of RC Narbonne, a prominent French rugby club.
In absentia, the French court sentenced the ex-Wallabies captain to five years in prison and ordered him to repay almost €705,000, citing embezzlement of funds around €700,000. The charges stem from unjustified payments made during his presidency, including €79,000 to a former coach and an Australian resident receiving €7,200 monthly despite not appearing at the club. The prosecution did not request a prison term as severe as the one imposed by the court.
Currently residing in Dublin, Elsom told the Sunday Times he is coaching at the Catholic University School. Despite living under the shadow of these legal issues, Elsom remains a revered figure in Ireland, having contributed to Leinster's triumph in the 2009 Heineken Cup and appearing 75 times for the Wallabies from 2005 to 2011.
Elsom's legal troubles have cast a pall over his post-rugby ventures. His consortium acquired RC Narbonne, hoping to revive the historic club. However, after it was relegated to a lower league and placed under administration in 2018, the financial mismanagement allegations emerged, culminating in this latest legal action. While the former rugby star hasn’t yet commented publicly on the matter, the arrest warrant indicates a pressing need for resolution in the intricate cross-jurisdictional legal landscape.
In absentia, the French court sentenced the ex-Wallabies captain to five years in prison and ordered him to repay almost €705,000, citing embezzlement of funds around €700,000. The charges stem from unjustified payments made during his presidency, including €79,000 to a former coach and an Australian resident receiving €7,200 monthly despite not appearing at the club. The prosecution did not request a prison term as severe as the one imposed by the court.
Currently residing in Dublin, Elsom told the Sunday Times he is coaching at the Catholic University School. Despite living under the shadow of these legal issues, Elsom remains a revered figure in Ireland, having contributed to Leinster's triumph in the 2009 Heineken Cup and appearing 75 times for the Wallabies from 2005 to 2011.
Elsom's legal troubles have cast a pall over his post-rugby ventures. His consortium acquired RC Narbonne, hoping to revive the historic club. However, after it was relegated to a lower league and placed under administration in 2018, the financial mismanagement allegations emerged, culminating in this latest legal action. While the former rugby star hasn’t yet commented publicly on the matter, the arrest warrant indicates a pressing need for resolution in the intricate cross-jurisdictional legal landscape.
