Irish ex-rugby player found guilty of rape
Former Ireland U20 rugby international Denis Coulson has been jailed for 14 years for raping a woman in Bordeaux, France, in 2017.
Dublin-born Coulson, who played for Connacht and French side Stade Français, was one of two former Ireland internationals to be sentenced at the Stade Assisi in Bordeaux on Friday.
Chris Farrell, a member of Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning Six Nations team in 2018, was sentenced to four years in prison, suspended for two years, for failing to prevent crime.
The court was told he would not be sent to prison but must wear an electronic tag for two years and remain in France.
The two men were tried alongside three other rugby players, two of whom were also found guilty of rape on Friday.
All five were teammates at Grenoble Football Club.
Frenchman Loick Jammes, 30, was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
New Zealander Rory Grice, 34, was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
New Zealander Dylan Hayes, 30, was given a two-year suspended sentence for failing to prevent a crime.
All five defendants deny the charges against them.
