Elsom (41) was found guilty in a Narbonne Court on Friday and given a five-year prison sentence. In absentia, he was found guilty.
ALLEGATIONS: Rocky Elsom, a former star of Leinster, claims that an arrest warrant is a “clear perversion of justice.”
Elsom (41) was found guilty in a Narbonne Court on Friday and given a five-year prison sentence. In absentia, he was found guilty.
A global arrest order has been issued for Rocky Elsom, the former Leinster star.
Neil Fetherstonhaugh
Rocky Elsom, a former rugby player for Leinster and Australia, called the warrant for his arrest in France a “clear perversion of justice” yesterday at 9:45.
Elsom (41) was found guilty in a Narbonne Court on Friday and given a five-year prison sentence. In absentia, he was found guilty.
Elsom’s tenure as president of the Narbonne Mediterranean Racing Club, a rugby team situated in the south of France, is thought to have had an impact on the conviction Elsom was found guilty of forgery, using a forgery, and misusing company property dating back to his tenure as the club’s president, according to ESPN.
In a recent interview with the Sunday Times, the former rugby great revealed that he had been employed as a coach at the Catholic University School (CUS) in Dublin.
The Wallabies skipper, nevertheless, remained adamant about his innocence and now asserted that he was never given the chance to defend himself.
The former Test captain disputed his guilt and said he hadn’t been given the opportunity to provide his own account of what happened in a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Elsom told The Herald, “It is a blatant perversion of justice that I am not allowed to defend the charges against.”
“Aside from what is already in the public domain, I don’t know much more about the evidence that was submitted at the hearing. I am therefore limited to responding to the accusations that have been made in public.
“I kindly request that the public evaluate the legitimacy of any procedure that excludes the accused party from participation.
“Even though my phone number and email address are reachable, it seems the judicial process was expedited as a result of a recent Sunday Times piece. This article provided my address, job title, and forthcoming events.
“I have not been questioned in this matter and the lengthy process seems to have deliberately excluded me from giving evidence.”
Elsom insisted on receiving the information that resulted in the five-year prison term from French attorney Patrick Tabet, who claimed Elsom paid “completely unjustified” separate payments to a former Narbonne coach and another Australian who was never hired by the team.
Elsom was scheduled to attend last week’s sold-out Leinster vs. Munster game at Croke Park as a guest of Leinster. He was expected to participate in a pre-game Q&A.
Leinster did, however, clarify that Elsom would not be making an appearance.
Rocky Elsom was scheduled to speak as a guest of Leinster Rugby at a sponsors’ Q&A in Croke Park, but that is no longer the case longer the case,” a spokesperson said.
Elsom, who is currently residing in Dublin, attended Narbonne from 2013 to 2016 and supported the French D2 team’s on-and off-field accomplishments during that time, according to ESPN.
The Herald claims that he has hired a French attorney to challenge the ruling.
Over the course of his illustrious international career, which lasted from 2005 to 2011, Elsom was capped 75 times for Australia.
In 2008 and 2009, he participated in 21 games for Leinster, where he was named Player of the Year. He also represented the French clubs Toulon and Narbonne.
In 2009, he was recognised as the European Player of the Year after helping Leinster win the Heineken Cup.
Despite Leinster’s best attempts to hold him, he soon decided to return to Australia to resume his playing career.
“I obviously enjoyed rugby and I liked Dublin before I played for Leinster,” he remarked.
“I want to play for Australia because I’m Australian, but I didn’t think I would appreciate it as much as I have. After learning of his departure from Leinster, Elsom stated, “You don’t always have the opportunity to do that, but I do now, so I want to take advantage of it.”
The Australian-born footballer, who was a member of both the Waratahs and the Brumbies, was a multiple player award winner.
