Rocky Elsom claims to be victim of clear ‘perversion of justice’ after five-year jail sentence

Rocky Elsom, the former Australia back-rower, has denied any wrongdoing and declared a “clear perversion of justice” after being handed a five-year sentence in France.

The 41-year-old was found guilty of forgery, use of forgery and misuse of corporate assets by a court in Narbonne, with an international arrest warrant issued for the ex-Wallabies captain.

Elsom was president of Narbonne for three years up until 2016, before being removed from his role and leaving behind what Midi Olympique labelled as a “catastrophic financial situation”.

He has been accused of embezzling around €700,000, but blasted back at French lawyer Patrick Tabet.

“In the interests of a fair and just process, I would ask Mr Tabet to send me a complete list of the documents and filings he used to secure the reported five-year prison sentence,” Elsom told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Not allowing me to defend the charges is a clear perversion of justice. I have little more information on the evidence that was presented in the hearing [other] than [what] is in the public domain.

“So, I can only address the allegations that have been raised publicly. I ask the public to consider the legitimacy of any process that does not allow for the involvement of the person being prosecuted.”

Elsom, who enjoyed a stellar stint at Leinster, claimed that his case had been fast-tracked after he revealed in an interview with The Sunday Times that he was back in Dublin until the end of the year and coaching at the Catholic University School.

“I have been contactable via my email address and phone number, yet it appears the court process was fast tracked after an article appeared recently in The Sunday Times,” he said.

“This article gave my location, occupation and upcoming scheduled events. I have not been questioned in this matter and the lengthy process seems to have deliberately excluded me from giving evidence.”