Denis Coulson is a former Irish rugby union player and a convicted rapist. He played as a prop.
| Born | Denis Coulson Dublin, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 107 kg (16 st 12 lb; 236 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St Michael's College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
editBorn in Dublin, Coulson was part of the St Michael's College side that won the 2012 Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup.[1] He is a nephew of billionaire businessman Paul Coulson.[2]
Grenoble
editCoulson represented Leinster in underage rugby, before accepting an academy contract with French club FC Grenoble in 2014, who were then coached by ex-Leinster player and former St Michael's College head coach Bernard Jackman. He made 39 appearances for the club over three seasons.[3][4]
Later career
editIn August 2017, Irish Pro14 side Connacht announced that they had signed Coulson ahead of the 2017–2018 season.[5] He returned to France, joining Stade Francais for the 2018–2019 season before switching to US Carcassonne for the 2019–2020 season. He retired from professional rugby in 2020 and returned to Ireland, playing for Bective Rangers under former Grenoble coach, Bernard Jackman.[6][7] Coulson is an ex-Ireland U20 international.[8]
Criminal conviction
editIn March 2017 Coulson and FC Grenoble teammates Rory Grice and Loïck Jammes were accused of the gang rape of an unconscious student, with teammates Chris Farrell and Dylan Hayes accused of failure to prevent a crime.[9][10][11][12] In December 2024 all five were found guilty, and Coulson was sentenced to 14 years in prison.[13] Coulson, Grice and Jammes appealled their conviction but their appeals were rejected by the Court of Cassation in Angoulême in April 2026.[14]
References
edit- ↑ "Former Irish U-20 prop Coulson thriving in Grenoble". Irish Independent. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ↑ https://independent.ie/news/the-full-story-how-two-irish-rugby-players-found-themselves-facing-french-court-after-rape-inquiry/42013713.html
- ↑ "Connacht capture Coulson". Planet Rugby. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ↑ "Connacht snap up Irish prop Denis Coulson from Grenoble". RTÉ. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ↑ "Prop Coulson 'Hugely Excited' To Return To Ireland With Connacht". IRFU. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ↑ https://independent.ie/news/the-full-story-how-two-irish-rugby-players-found-themselves-facing-french-court-after-rape-inquiry/42013713.html
- ↑ https://www.rugbyplayersireland.ie/tapping-into-future/
- ↑ "Connacht sign prop Denis Coulson". Connacht Rugby. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ↑ "Contrasting fortunes for Jackson and Olding in France after Belfast rape trial". Irish Times. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ↑ "Rugby : des joueurs du FC Grenoble soupçonnés de viol après la défaite contre l'UBB". France Bleu. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ↑ "Irish rugby player questioned in gang rape case". Irish Times. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ↑ "French rape trial of Denis Coulson adjourned after former rugby player sustains injuries in car crash". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ↑ Creed, Karen (13 December 2024). "Irish former rugby player found guilty of rape in France".
- ↑ O'Leary, Naomi (4 April 2026). "French jury upholds 14-year rape sentence for Irish former rugby player Denis Coulson". Irish Times.