Ex-Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom remains on the run – here’s what he told prominent Australian businessman Mark Bouris compared to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
- Rocky Elsom’s current whereabouts in Europe are unknown
- Issued a five-year prison sentence for alleged misuse of company property
- Originates from his time as chairman of the French rugby club Narbonne
- Elsom, 41, denies the allegations and will try to clear his name
Former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom remains on the run and refuses to reveal his current location as he faces allegations of misuse of company assets as club chairman of French rugby club Narbonne.
Elsom, 41, spoke to prominent Australian businessman Mark Bouris in a lengthy interview on Saturday but remained coy about where he is hiding.
In what quickly sounds like a movie script, Elsom confirmed that he recently left Ireland in a hurry, armed with only a backpack, amid fears he might be extradited to France on a European arrest warrant.
Elsom was recently sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for misuse of company assets stemming from his time at the helm of Narbonne between 2015 and 2016, charges he strongly denies.
He was charged with forgery and had to repay €705,000 [$1.1million AUD].
Other allegations include that Elsom backdated the contract of a club doctor, that a payment from beer giant Heineken was illegally transferred to a company in his name and that he agreed to salary advances for players.
Elsom told business guru Bouris that he is not yet comparing himself to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange; his focus is on building a strong defense with a team of lawyers.
He also confirmed that his mental health status is encouraging as he is in fact a wanted fugitive.
Former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom refuses to reveal his current location as he faces allegations of misuse of company assets as club chairman of French rugby club Narbonne
Elsom, 41, spoke to prominent Australian businessman Mark Bouris in a lengthy interview on Saturday but remained coy about where he is hiding
Elsom recently left Ireland in haste, fearing he would be extradited to France on a European arrest warrant
Elsom, 41, was recently sentenced to five years in prison for alleged conduct as president of French rugby club Narbonne between 2015 and 2016.
Elsom told Bouris that he is not comparing himself to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange; his focus is on building his defense with a team of lawyers
“I have done nothing wrong, there are no victims,” Elsom emphasized in the newspaper lengthy interview with Bouris.
‘I have already been convicted [in absentia] but at no point was I given the opportunity to defend myself.
“I’m doing a little bit [physical] during my training it is important to stay focused. I can’t become emotionally exhausted or see myself as a victim.’
Elsom spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald earlier this month about the dangerous situation he is involved in.
“All I can say is that I have spoken to the Gardaí [Irish police] and they said if I’m in Ireland they have to bring me in,” he said.
‘I said to them, ‘That’s okay, I’m not in Ireland.
‘The most important thing to remember is that if I am in custody, my defense becomes a lot more expensive and difficult.
“If I’m detained, I’ll have to hire a lawyer to do everything for me, all the phone calls, trying to find documents, talking to people, defending myself.”
When it comes to possible public recognition, Elsom admitted, “I’ll have to go out at some point, but I’ll keep my head down, that’s for sure.”
