Former Munster rugby player Chris Farrell has been released from his contract with French side Oyonnax, following his conviction last month in connection with the gang rape of a woman in Bordeaux.
In a statement on Thursday morning, the division two club said its board of directors had decided to end the contracts of both Mr Farrell and his co-defendant, Rory Grice, after meeting to discuss their “future within the professional squad”.
“Having taken note of the criminal convictions handed down against the two players, the members of the board unanimously took the decision to terminate the contracts of Rory Grice and Chris Farrell.”
The meeting was held almost a month after verdicts were delivered following a two-week trial involving three other players, including Dubliner Denis Coulson, who was found guilty of the gang rape of a now 27-year-old woman at a hotel in a suburb of Bordeaux in March 2017. He was jailed for 14 years, but his Paris-based legal team has since lodged an appeal.
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Chris Farrell was convicted of failing to prevent a crime, and given a four-year sentence, with two years suspended. However, he will not serve any jail time. Instead he has been ordered to wear an electronic tag. New Zealander Rory Grice received a 12-year sentence after being found guilty of gang rape.
The trial – which was held in the absence of the media, at the victim’s request – was told that she had met the defendants while out socialising with friends on March 11th, 2017. The players were signed with French club FC Grenoble at the time and had just lost a match to a local side in Bordeaux.
The victim, then aged 20 and a student, later told police she couldn’t remember anything after leaving a nightclub and going back to a hotel with the players, because she had been drinking very heavily.
The three men convicted on rape charges admitted to having sexual relations with the woman but claimed that the encounter had been consensual. All three have appealed their convictions, and another trial is expected to take place at the court of appeal later this year.
Lawyers for Chris Farrell and Dylan Hayes, who was also found guilty of failing to prevent a crime – and given a two-year suspended sentence – decided not to lodge appeals.
Mr Farrell made 71 appearances with Munster and represented Ireland on 15 occasions. He was released from his involvement with Munster in March 2023, after the five men were sent forward for trial. Oyonnax had faced criticism for standing by its team members despite the legal proceedings.
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