Former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom remains embroiled in legal proceedings over his management of the French rugby club Narbonne, nearly two years after receiving a prison sentence in absentia. The case centers on allegations that Elsom misappropriated company funds during his tenure as majority owner and president of the club, which eventually went into liquidation.

In 2016, Elsom stepped down from his role at Narbonne, a club that competed in France’s rugby league system. The prosecution contended that Elsom’s financial decisions, including payments to players and suppliers, left the club in a precarious financial condition. Despite the club’s continuation for two years after his departure, it ultimately faced relegation from the French second division in 2018 and later entered liquidation in 2019. This financial collapse initiated an investigation into Elsom’s management, culminating in his conviction and a two-year prison sentence handed down in his absence.

However, an appeal has been filed and is pending before a court in Montpellier, though no trial date has been set nearly 19 months after the initial verdict. Meanwhile, former Narbonne director Michael Bouchier, an Australian who was on the club’s board during Elsom’s presidency and afterward, has publicly defended Elsom against the charges. Bouchier described the allegations as a campaign of slander, asserting that the club was in sound financial health when Elsom left.

Bouchier stated that all payments made under Elsom’s stewardship were contractually obligated and approved by the board. He emphasized Elsom’s efforts to curb excessive spending, including eliminating costly lunches and dinners, which Bouchier said angered some individuals but contributed to the club running profits from 2013 to 2016. After Elsom’s departure, Bouchier noted a decline in sponsorship revenues, increased operating expenses, and poorer on-field results, factors he implied contributed to the club’s financial struggles.

Supporting this perspective, Gerard Bertrand, the club’s primary benefactor and former president, has described Elsom as a “scapegoat” for Narbonne’s financial difficulties. Bertrand indicated that the causes of the club’s fiscal failure were unrelated to Elsom’s management.

As the appeal process continues, Elsom’s legal team seeks to overturn the previous conviction, arguing that the former player and executive acted within his authority and responsibilities. The impending retrial aims to resolve conflicting narratives about the club’s financial state under Elsom’s leadership and clarify his role in the events leading to Narbonne’s insolvency.