Farrell sacked by Oyonnax after conviction

Farrell earned 15 caps for Ireland

Former Ireland international Chris Farrell has been sacked by French club Oyonnax following his conviction last month.

Farrell, 31, received a four-year sentence, with two years suspended, for failure to prevent a rape crime.

The court was told County Tyrone-born Farrell would not be sent to prison but would have to wear an electronic tag for two years and remain in France.

At the trial at Bordeaux's Cour d'Asisses, former Ireland Under-20 international Denis Coulson was sentenced to 14 years in prison after he was found guilty of the rape of a woman in Bordeaux in 2017.

The two men were on trial with three other rugby players. All five men were once team-mates together at FC Grenoble.

Loick Jammes, 30, from France, was found guilty of rape and given a 14-year sentence.

Rory Grice, 34, from New Zealand, was found guilty of rape and given a 12-year sentence.

Fellow New Zealander 30-year-old Dylan Hayes was given a two-year suspended sentence for failure to prevent a crime.

On Thursday, Oyonnax confirmed the termination of Farrell and Grice's contracts.

The club's statement read: "Following the verdict delivered by the Gironde Assize Court on December 13, 2024 concerning the criminal case involving Rory Grice and Chris Farrell, the Board of Directors met to decide on their future within the club's professional workforce.

"Also, after having taken note of the criminal convictions handed down against the two players, the members of the Council unanimously took the decision to terminate the contracts of Rory Grice and Chris Farrell.

"The club will not make any further comment on this matter."

2018 Six Nations winner Farrell, who is originally from Fivemiletown, joined Grenoble in 2014 and played there until 2017.

Farrell joined Munster in 2017 but stepped away in 2022 due to the legal proceedings before signing for Oyonnax in 2023.

He has been capped 15 times for Ireland, including at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.