An international arrest warrant has been issued for former Leinster and Australia rugby star Rocky Elsom after he was convicted in France over a number of financial charges.
Elsom (41) was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty in a Narbonne Court on Friday. He was convicted in absentia.
The conviction is understood to relate to Elsom’s time as president of the Narbonne Mediterranean Racing Club, a rugby club based in the south of France.
The ex-rugby star has most recently been working as a coach with the Catholic University School (CUS) in Dublin, according to an interview he did with the Sunday Times last week.
The school has been contacted for comment.
Elsom was due to appear as a Leinster guest for today’s sold-out clash with Munster at Croke Park, where he had been earmarked to feature in a Q&A pre-match.
However, Leinster confirmed that Elsom will now not be appearing.
“Rocky Elsom was due to appear at a sponsors’ Q&A in Croke Park as a guest of Leinster Rugby, but that is no longer the case,” a spokesperson said.
The Irish Independent has contacted gardai on whether they have been made aware of the arrest warrant.
Elsom was capped 75 times for Australia in a glittering international career which spanned from 2005 to 2011.
He played 21 times for Leinster across 2008 and 2009, where he won a Player of the Year award, as well as representing clubs Toulon and Narbonne in France.
He also landed a European Player of the Year award in 2009, as he helped Leinster to land the Heineken Cup that year.
Soon after, he made the decision to return to Australia to continue his playing career despite Leinster’s best efforts to keep him.
“I already liked Dublin before playing for Leinster and obviously enjoyed rugby,” he said.
“I didn’t expect to like it as much as I have done but ultimately I’m Australian and I want to play for Australia. You don’t always have the opportunity to do that but I do now so I want to take advantage of it,” Elsom said on news of his departure from Leinster.
The Melbourne native played for the Waratahs and the Brumbies in Australia, where he won a string of player awards.
Attempts to contact Mr Elsom were unsuccessful.