Ex-Australia rugby captain hunted by police makes brave public statement from hiding

A former Australia rugby captain is determined to clear his name after packing his bags and going on the run from French police. A surprise arrest warrant was recently issued for Rocky Elsom, who won 75 caps for the Wallabies between 2005 and 2011.

Last month, he was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison for forgery and embezzlement during his time as club president of Narbonne. He was charged with backdating contracts and illegal fund transfers as well as being ordered to pay over £583,000.

The case is a complex one, with many believing that Elsom is being used as a scapegoat after Narbonne went into administration in 2018. The 41-year-old denies any wrongdoing and still believes he will clear his name despite going on the run to evade jail.

"I just have to use whatever information I can get from the court and pull together the documents from where I am to prepare a case," Elsom told the .

"It was eight years ago and I don't have full access to the club. It's about trying to get back in touch with the club and their professionals who were in charge of the accounts and are in possession of some of the information that could exonerate me."

Elsom claims he was unaware that he was even on trial, let alone facing a lengthy prison sentence. He was coaching rugby in Ireland when the news broke, but has been living out of a backpack ever since after leaving the country and going into hiding.

"As soon as I saw the news reports, I just packed straight away," he explained. "I was packing when people were calling me to tell me what they'd read. I was only in Dublin for six weeks. I was there on a holiday visa. I left all my things behind.

"I just had a backpack when I left, with two shirts and a washbag. It's unusual to think that you wake up one day and you're convicted of something and sentenced to prison when you had no idea you were on trial. There doesn't seem like there was any genuine attempt to contact me prior to it."

Police in Ireland quickly obtained Elsom's contact details and went to his home with the aim of taking him into custody for extradition to France. He was one step ahead, though, and managed to evade capture by secretly fleeing the country.

Elsom recently worked as a builder to generate funds but is now relying on friends and savings to keep himself afloat while on the run.

"It's almost impossible for me to generate income right now," he said. "That might change in the future but right now it's understandably more difficult for me to generate income while I'm under an arrest warrant and trying not to be noticed.

"It looks pretty suspicious if someone hides their face, so I just don't go out much. If you see someone hiding their face, it probably attracts more attention. I know people where I am, so it's not as if I'm in an igloo.

"Staying in a hotel would be a bit more worrying given they'd have my name on the room. I've got to try to get some exercise when I can and some sun because this could go on for a while."