Rocky Elsom Sentenced in France for Corporate Fraud

Former Australia rugby captain Rocky Elsom has been sentenced to two years in prison by a French court for misusing corporate assets during his tenure as president of Narbonne. Elsom, who did not attend the trial, was also fined €100,000, with half suspended, and remains subject to an international arrest warrant. Previously, Elsom faced a five-year sentence for forgery and misuse of assets, which he appealed, resulting in the current reduced sentence without the forgery charges. The public prosecutor had sought a stricter penalty, including a three-year term and a €630,000 fine. Despite the conviction, Elsom claims that under his leadership, Narbonne was financially healthy. Elsom, who played 75 times for Australia and won the 2009 Heineken Cup with Leinster, has been living in Ireland but fled following the issuance of the arrest warrant.