Former Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom’s father has revealed that his son is “safe and well” despite an arrest warrant being issued for him after he was found guilty of misusing corporate funds.
In March, it was reported in the French media that Elsom received a prison sentence of two years while he also has to pay a fine of 100,000 euros – half of which was suspended.
Elsom was also ordered to pay 240,000 euros compensation to the liquidator of the Narbonne rugby club where he served as president in 2015 and 2016.
The 42-year-old, who played at club level for the Waratahs and Brumbies at Super Rugby level as well as Irish province Leinster, did not appear in court at the time but was convicted in his absence after he was made the subject of an international arrest warrant.
His father, Robbie Elsom said he had been in contact with his son, who represented Australia as a flanker in 75 Tests between 2005 and 2011 and who captained his country on 24 occasions.
‘Will remain in hiding’
“He is doing OK, is safe and well, but will remain in hiding,’ Elsom senior told the Daily Mail of the high-profile fugitive.
“If you look at his (court case) it was like a boxing bout, but he won the first round following an acquittal. A number of the charges were thrown out, which is crucial.
“Rocky desperately wants to clear his name, but as you can understand, these things take time.
“He is completely innocent, they (French government) had to point the finger at someone.”
Elsom’s lawyer Yann Le Bras revealed that he would appeal his clinet’s sentence.
“I have submitted to the court both serious procedural issues and evidence that would allow Rocky Elsom to be acquitted,” he told AFP.
Prosecutors had demanded a prison sentence of three years and a 630,000-euro fine after Elsom faced trial for the second time.
He initially received a five-year sentence in 2024 but was retried on appeal.
Narbonne placed in receivership
Narbonne, who were French champions in 1936 and 1979, were placed in receivership and relegated in 2018, after having financial difficulties for several years.
“He was found guilty of squandering the club’s funds and ordered to pay a substantial sum in compensation for his losses,” Patrick Tabet, Narbonne’s liquidation lawyer, told AFP.
Elsom told Australian media in 2024 that he had been “scapegoated” for mismanagement of the club after he left, claiming Narbonne were successful on and off the field during his stint as president.
“(Narbonne) achieved solid profits, had good sporting results, and remained in Pro D2 (the second tier of French rugby) until 2016 and beyond,” he said in a statement in October last year.
“It seems that I have been targeted as a scapegoat for the future mismanagement of this famous rugby club.”
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/completely-innocent-ex-wallabies-captain-safe-and-well-in-hiding-despite-international-arrest-warrant
