Former Rugby Players Sentenced for Rape in Bordeaux

In a significant case in Bordeaux, ex-Ireland U20 rugby player Denis Coulson has been sentenced to 14 years for rape, with Chris Farrell receiving a four-year suspended sentence for facilitating the crime. The legal proceedings involved five men, including two additional players also convicted, highlighting a devastating chapter for the sport.

Former Ireland U20 rugby international Denis Coulson has been handed a 14-year prison sentence after a Bordeaux court found him guilty of raping a woman in 2017. The sentencing took place at the Cour d'Assises in Bordeaux on Friday, marking a pivotal moment in a trial that has captivated the rugby community.

Coulson, originally from Dublin, is among two men who faced sentences on the same day, with former Six Nations champion Chris Farrell receiving a four-year sentence—partly suspended—due to his involvement in the crime's facilitation. The court established that Farrell would wear an electronic tag for two years while remaining in France rather than serving time in prison.

Both men were on trial alongside three other rugby players from FC Grenoble, leading to further convictions. French player Loick Jammes, aged 30, and New Zealander Rory Grice, 34, received sentences of 14 and 12 years, respectively. Another New Zealander, 30-year-old Dylan Hayes, avoided prison with a two-year suspended sentence.

All five former teammates had denied the accusations, but the court's decision marks a tragic chapter for the sport as it confronts issues of misconduct and accountability within its ranks.