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Rocky Elsom (file pic). Alamy Stock Photo

International arrest warrant issued for former Leinster and Wallabies star Elsom

The backrow forward played 75 times for Australia and had a stint with the Irish side between 2008 and 2009.

AN INTERNATIONAL arrest warrant was issued on Friday against former Australia rugby captain and Leinster player Rocky Elsom who was sentenced in his absence to five years in prison by a French court for misuse of corporate assets, a lawyer in the case told AFP.

Charges were brought following Elsomโ€™s spell as president of French club Narbonne between 2015 and 2016.

Backrow forward Elsom, who played 75 times for the Wallabies, was also found guilty of forgery and ordered to pay back โ‚ฌ705,000, lawyer Patrick Tabet told AFP.

Elsom, president of the club in 2015-2016, was also accused of having paid โ‚ฌ79,000 to a former coach when โ€œnothing could justify itโ€ and of hiring for around โ‚ฌ7,200 a month, an individual living in Australia who โ€œnever came to Narbonneโ€ and โ€œdid not perform any serviceโ€ for the club, said the lawyer.

The president of the court handed down a sentence higher than the prosecutorโ€™s request of two years in prison.

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

โ€“ ยฉ AFP 2024

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