Irish Ex-Rugby Player Convicted of Rape in France

Denis Coulson, a former Irish U20 rugby player, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the rape of a woman in Bordeaux in 2017. Coulson was among three former FC Grenoble players accused of gang raping a 20-year-old woman following a match in March 2017. After more than nine hours of deliberation, the court delivered majority verdicts for all five defendants involved.

Chris Farrell, an ex-Irish international currently with Oyonnax in France, received a four-year sentence with two years suspended for failing to prevent the crime. Farrell will avoid prison but must wear an electronic tag for two years and remain in France. French player Loick Jammes received a 14-year sentence for rape, while New Zealander Rory Grice was sentenced to 12 years for the same charge. Another New Zealander, Dylan Hayes, was given a two-year suspended sentence for his failure to prevent the crime.

The incident occurred in a hotel room in Mérignac, a suburb of Bordeaux, after the FC Grenoble team played against Union Bordeaux Bègles. All five men denied the charges, with the three accused of rape claiming the sexual activity was consensual.

The trial, held privately at the request of the complainant’s lawyers, commenced last week at La Cour d’Assises in the Gironde region. Initially scheduled for June, it was postponed after Coulson’s lawyers requested an adjournment due to his inability to communicate with them following a serious car accident in Ireland. The trial resumed on December 2 and lasted for two weeks.

Both Coulson and Farrell joined Grenoble in 2014, with Farrell also having played for Ireland, including at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. After the verdicts, the victim’s lawyer, Grégoire Mouly, expressed relief and praised the French justice system for acknowledging the victim’s ordeal and believing her account.

Denis Coulson’s lawyer, Corinne Dreyfus Schmidt, expressed shock and devastation at the decision, announcing plans to appeal for Coulson’s release. Coulson is expected to serve his sentence in a prison near Bordeaux. Dylan Hayes, who received a suspended sentence, was seen leaving the court shortly after the verdicts were announced.