How it all went wrong for Rocky Elsom in the ‘wild west’ of French rugby

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How it all went wrong for Rocky Elsom in the ‘wild west’ of French rugby

The former Wallabies captain faces arrest in France over misusing the assets of his rugby club. But court documents reveal he left the club in its best financial position in years.

Rocky Elsom back in 2010 when he was Wallabies captain. Helen Nezdropa

Zoe Samios and James Hall

Mar 28, 2025 – 5.38pm

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In the small town of Narbonne on the French coast, former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom knew his time was running out.

It was 2016 and the town’s rugby club, Racing Club de Narbonne Mediterranee, which he owned and ran, had struggled to win a game and was being threatened with relegation. The locals were hostile, and he knew he would likely lose his presidency within weeks.

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Zoe SamiosBusiness reporterZoe Samios covers wagering and the business of sport from the AFR's Sydney newsroom. She was previously the media and telecommunications reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and covered media at The Australian.