Former Irish Rugby International Sentenced for Rape in France

Denis Coulson, a former Ireland U20 rugby international, received a 14-year prison sentence following his conviction for the rape of a woman in Bordeaux, France, an incident that occurred in 2017. Coulson, a Dublin native who also played for Connacht and the French team Stade Français, was among two former Irish international rugby players who received sentences on Friday at the Cour d’Assises in Bordeaux. Chris Farrell, a member of Ireland’s 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam-winning squad, was given a four-year sentence, with two years suspended, for the offense of failing to prevent a crime. The court indicated that he would not be incarcerated but would be required to wear an electronic tag for two years and stay within France. These two individuals were tried alongside three other rugby players; two of these additional players were also convicted of rape on Friday. All five men had previously been teammates at FC Grenoble. Loick Jammes, a 30-year-old from France, was convicted of rape and sentenced to 14 years. Rory Grice, 34, from New Zealand, was also found guilty of rape and received a 12-year sentence. Another New Zealander, 30-year-old Dylan Hayes, received a two-year suspended sentence for failing to prevent a crime. All five defendants had maintained their innocence against the charges.