Rocky Elsom: Former Australia captain handed two-year prison sentence
Former Australian Rugby League captain Rocky Elsom was found guilty of two years in prison for corporate assets, convicted of French club Narbonne president.
The 42-year-old was also fined €100,000 (£84,141) by a French court, half of which were suspended – convicted in absence on Friday.
His warrant has been issued and his whereabouts are unknown.
Elsom, who made 75 appearances for his country and won the Heineken Cup with Leinster in 2009, was in charge of the club in southern France in 2015-16, had previously denied any wrongdoing.
He received his initial five years in prison in October 2024, but was recounted after appeal.
In the October 2024 trial, which he also did not attend, Elsom was found guilty of forgery, forgery and abuse of company assets.
The forgery is revoked from the 2025 trial, but the former must pay €219,760 (£184,904) to the club’s liquidator.
Prosecutors demanded that Elsom be fined three years with a fine of €630,000 (£529,411).
Narbonne won the French rugby championship twice and finished three runner-ups. But the club had liquidated in 2018 and is now participating in the third-tier Federerer League.
From 2009 to 2011, Blindside Fainanker Elsom made his debut in 2005.
He was also appointed as the matchmaker when he helped Dublin club win the 2009 Heineken Cup with Irish great Johnny Sexton and Brian O’Driscoll.
Elsom has lived in Ireland since August 2024 but fled the country after an arrest warrant was issued last year.
