Rocky Elsom declares innocence after embezzlement conviction [Video]

Former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom has broken his silence, insisting he is innocent after being convicted of embezzling money while president and part-owner of French rugby club Narbonne a decade ago.

In a statement issued exclusively to this masthead, Elsom denied any wrongdoing after a French court last week placed an international arrest warrant on him and sentenced him in his absence to five years’ jail.

Elsom has engaged a lawyer in France to appeal the court’s decision. “I would like to make it clear that I was not informed of this hearing and was not given the opportunity to defend myself against the allegations,” Elsom said in the statement.

The court found Elsom guilty of forgery, the use of forgery and misuse of corporate assets …