Former Irish rugby player found guilty of rape

Former Ireland U20 rugby player Denis Coulson has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of raping a woman in Bordeaux, France, in 2017.

Dublin-born Coulson, who also played for Connacht and France’s Stade France, was one of two former Irish rugby players sentenced at the Coeur d’Assis in Bordeaux on Friday.

Chris Farrell, who was a member of Ireland’s Grand Slam-winning Six Nations team in 2018, was given a four-year sentence, suspended for two years, for failing to commit the offence.

The court was told he will not be sent to prison but will have to wear an electronic tag for two years and remain in France.

The two men were tried along with three other rugby players, two of whom were also found guilty of rape on Friday.

All five men were once teammates at FC Grenoble.

30-year-old Loic Jams from France was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

34-year-old Rory Grice from New Zealand was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

A second New Zealander, 30-year-old Dylan Hayes, was given a two-year suspended sentence for failing to commit the crime.

All five defendants denied the charges against them.