Former Wallabies star Rocky Elsom has been found guilty of forgery, use of forgery and misuse of corporate assets in France, sentenced to five years in prison and is now the subject of an international arrest warrant.
Elsom, 41, played 75 tests for Australia, making him the country's most capped blindside flanker, and served two years as captain from 2009/10. He had a distinguished career that saw him named Wallabies Player of the Year in 2008, European Player of the Year for Leinster in 2009 and inducted into the European Cup Hall of Fame in 2010.
He set the record for most tries by a Wallabies forward and won two Heineken Cup titles, lauded by Leinster teammate Brian O'Driscoll as the best player in the world.
The charges date back to his 2015/16 term as president of French club Narbonne, which he left in a "catastrophic financial situation", according to Midi Olympique newspaper.
Elsom has been convicted of embezzling €79,000 (NZ$141,000) from the club, and hiring an Australian who never came to the club and performed no service for the club, paying them €7200 a month (NZ12.900).
The court president has handed down a heavier sentence than the two years recommended by the prosecutor.
Elsom is believed to be in Ireland, coaching at Catholic School University, while he rehabs an injury.
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