Former Australia captain Elsom sentenced to five years in prison

Former Australian Rugby Union captain Rocky Elsom has been sentenced to five years in prison after a French court found him guilty of misusing company assets while president of French club Narbonne.

A court official told Reuters that the 41-year-old was found guilty last week by a court in Narbonne of forgery, use of forgery and misuse of company property. He has denied the allegations.

Elsom, who lived in Narbonne from 2013 to 2016, was convicted in absentia and an international arrest warrant has been issued for him. He was also ordered to pay back 700,000 euros ($761,000).

Elsom said in a statement published by the Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday that he had not been notified of the court hearing or given the opportunity to defend himself against the charges.

He added that it was a “clear perversion of justice”. The newspaper said Elsom had retained a lawyer to appeal the court’s decision.

A powerful blindside flanker, Elsom played 75 tests for the Wallabies and captained them from 2009 until just before the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

He also had a successful spell with Irish province Leinster and told the British Times newspaper this month that he was coaching at a school in Dublin.

($1 = 0.9194 euros)