Denis Coulson

Denis Coulson
Birth nameDenis Coulson
Place of birthDublin, Ireland
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight107 kg (16 st 12 lb; 236 lb)
SchoolSt Michael's College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loosehead Prop
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2018 Lansdowne ()
2021-2022 Bective Rangers ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2017 Grenoble 39 (0)
2017–2018 Connacht 18 (0)
2018-2019 Stade Français 9 (0)
2019-2020 Carcassonne 10 (5)
Correct as of 6 April 2020

Denis Coulson is a former Irish rugby union player. He played as a prop. In December 2024 he was found guilty of the violent gang rape of a student in Bordeaux in 2017 and sentenced to 14 years in prison.[1]

Early life

Born in Dublin, Coulson was part of the St Michael's College side that won the 2012 Leinster Schools Rugby Senior Cup.[2] He is a nephew of billionaire businessman Paul Coulson.[3]

Grenoble

Coulson 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.[4][5]

Later career

In August 2017, Irish Pro14 side Connacht announced that they had signed Coulson ahead of the 2017–2018 season.[6] 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.[7][8] Coulson is an ex-Ireland U20 international.[9]

Criminal conviction

In 2017 Coulson, along with 2 of his teammates at FC Grenoble, was accused of gang rape of an unconscious student.[10][11][12][13] In December 2024, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.[14]

References

  1. ^ http://www.rte.ie/news/europe/2024/1213/1486346-rape-trial-france/
  2. ^ "Former Irish U-20 prop Coulson thriving in Grenoble". Irish Independent. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  3. ^ https://independent.ie/news/the-full-story-how-two-irish-rugby-players-found-themselves-facing-french-court-after-rape-inquiry/42013713.html
  4. ^ "Connacht capture Coulson". Planet Rugby. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Connacht snap up Irish prop Denis Coulson from Grenoble". RTÉ. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  6. ^ "Prop Coulson 'Hugely Excited' To Return To Ireland With Connacht". IRFU. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  7. ^ https://independent.ie/news/the-full-story-how-two-irish-rugby-players-found-themselves-facing-french-court-after-rape-inquiry/42013713.html
  8. ^ https://www.rugbyplayersireland.ie/tapping-into-future/
  9. ^ "Connacht sign prop Denis Coulson". Connacht Rugby. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Contrasting fortunes for Jackson and Olding in France after Belfast rape trial". Irish Times. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Rugby : des joueurs du FC Grenoble soupçonnés de viol après la défaite contre l'UBB". France Bleu. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Irish rugby player questioned in gang rape case". Irish Times. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  13. ^ "French rape trial of Denis Coulson adjourned after former rugby player sustains injuries in car crash". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  14. ^ Creed, Karen (13 December 2024). "Irish former rugby player found guilty of rape in France".