International arrest warrant issued for former Wallaby captain

10/11/2024 02:43 PM

NEWS: An international arrest warrant was issued on Friday against former Wallaby captain Rocky Elsom.

Elsom was sentenced in his absence to five years imprisonment by a French court for the misuse of corporate assets, a lawyer in the case told AFP.

Charges were brought following Elsom's stint as president of French club Narbonne between 2015 and 2016.

The loose forward who has 75 Wallaby caps to his name was also accused of having paid 79,000 Euros to a former coach when 'nothing could justify it'.

He was also accused of hiring for around 7,200 Euros per month, an individual residing in Australia who 'never came to Narbonne' and 'did not perform any service' for the club, said the lawyer.

The president of the court handed down a sentence higher than the prosecutor's request of two years imprisonment.

Narbonne who were champions of France in 1936 and 1979 were placed in liquidation and relegated in 2018 after years of financial difficulties.