Coulson, who had roots in Dublin and played professionally for Connacht and Stade Français, was part of a group of former rugby internationals facing serious allegations. Alongside him, Chris Farrell, a member of the Irish rugby team during the 2018 Grand Slam-Winning Six Nations, received a four-year sentence with two years suspended for failing to prevent the crime. Farrell will not serve time behind bars but must wear an electronic tag for a duration of two years while remaining in France.

The trial encompassed five players who were once teammates at FC Grenoble. In addition to Coulson, the court also found Loick Jammes, a 30-year-old French national, guilty of rape, sentencing him to 14 years in prison. Rory Grice, a 34-year-old from New Zealand, received a 12-year sentence on similar charges. Dylan Hayes, another New Zealander aged 30, received a two-year suspended sentence for failing to prevent a crime. Notably, all defendants denied the accusations, culminating in a significant ruling by the court reflecting on the dire need for accountability within the sports community.

This case has sparked further discussions about issues of safety and accountability in sports, emphasizing the responsibility athletes hold towards one another and their surrounding communities.