Ex-Wallaby Rocky Elsom breaks silence over French jail sentence, fraud allegations

Wallaby great Rocky Elsom is fighting $1.1m French fraud allegations after being sentenced to five years’ jail in his absence. He says he’s innocent and had no chance to defend himself.

Rocky Elsom has 75 caps from playing for the Wallabies.Picture: Cameron Spencer.

Former Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom has broken his silence after apparently being sentenced to jail for five years in his absence by a French court for misuse of corporate assets.

Elsom has exclusively told The Daily Telegraph from his home in Ireland on Tuesday morning that the first he heard of the court action was in media reports four days ago and that he has engaged a French lawyer to appeal his conviction as soon as possible.

“I would like to make it clear that I was not informed of this hearing and was not given the opportunity to defend myself against the allegations,” Elsom said.

“Not allowing me to defend the charges, is a clear perversion of justice. I have little more information on the evidence that was presented in the hearing than is in the public domain,” he said.

“I ask the public to consider the legitimacy of any process that does not allow for the involvement of the person being prosecuted.”

Rocky Elsom says he’s done nothing wrong, despite being apparently convicted by a French court of misusing corporate assets. Picture: Cameron Spencer. Picture: Getty Images

AFP reported on Friday that an international arrest warrant has been issued against Elsom who was sentenced in his absence to five years in prison by a French court for misuse of corporate assets.

Charges were brought after Elsom’s time as president of French club Racing Club de Narbonne Mediterranee (RCNM). He was president from 2013 to 2016.

Elsom was also found guilty of forgery and ordered to pay back $1.1 million, a lawyer involved in the case told AFP.

Elsom was also reportedly accused of having paid $128,000 to a former coach when “nothing could justify it” and of hiring for about $11,600 a month an individual living in Australia who “never came to Narbonne” and “did not perform any service” for the club, the lawyer said.

The Narbonne club was placed in liquidation and relegated in 2018, after years of financial difficulties.

Elsom, who played 75 times for the Wallabies, told the Telegraph he has been contactable via his email address and phone number, “yet it appears the court process was fast-tracked” after an article appeared recently in the Sunday Times in Ireland.

Former Australian captain Rocky Elsom lifts the Cook Cup after they beat England 9-18 in a match against England at Twickenham Stadium in 2009. Picture: Adrian Dennis

“This article gave my location, occupation and upcoming scheduled events. I have not been questioned in this matter and the lengthy process seems to have deliberately excluded me from giving evidence.”

He said he was focused on providing the appropriate evidence and clearing his name, rather than wonder whether police would knock on his door at any time and place him under arrest.

“If an international arrest warrant is passed on to the Irish authorities they are obliged to do that – that would mean I would be detained.

“Then I would be detained until they had another hearing – I wouldn’t put it past them to delay that hearing for a while but I just have to focus on what I am doing to clear my name.”

Elsom said that during his time as President, RCNM produced “strong profits, good sporting results and importantly remained in the Pro D2 up to and beyond 2016”.

He said that two seasons after his departure, the club was relegated on sporting grounds.

“It appears I have been targeted as a scapegoat for future mismanagement of the famous rugby club.”

Elsom said that all payments made to him, players, staff and suppliers during his time at the club “were consistent with French law and completely transparent”.

“I would like an official explanation from the club’s lawyer as to whether I am being accused of embezzlement, fraud, misappropriation and forgery for my personal benefit,” he said.

Rocky Elsom during Australian Wallabies days.

Rocky Elsom in action for the Wallabies in 2009. Picture: Getty Images

He also requested a copy of the documents used to secure the conviction.

Elsom said financial records showed that RCNM was in “excellent financial shape”.

“In my three years running RCNM as its majority shareholder, the club performed remarkably well financially,” he said and produced figures he said were the club’s financials.

“Furthermore, the subscription to the share issue I decided on, raised a further EUR 400,000 in cash for RCNM’s benefit in 2016.

“The facts above can only be confused if media reports are to be believed over the official public record.”