Five rugby players will appear before the Gironde Assize Court this Monday. Those former players of the Grenoble team are accused of committing gang rape, for three of them, and of not preventing a crime, for the other two who are said to have witnessed the events without intervention.
Who is the accused?
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Five rugby players, all Grenoble players at the time of the actions they are accused of, will be in the dock. 30-year-old Irish columnist Denis Coulson, New Zealander Rory Grice, 34, and Frenchman Loïck Jammes, 30, will appear until December 13 for gang rape. Along with them, the Irishman Chris Farrell, 31, and the New Zealander Dylan Hayes, 40, are responding to allegations that they prevented a crime.
What are the alleged facts?
On March 12, 2017, the day after the Top 14 match that Grenoblois lost against Union Bordeaux-Bègles, a young woman, in tears, left a hotel in Mérignac, on the outskirts of Bordeaux. In the process, she filed a complaint. She explains that she met the Grenoble players in a bar with two friends. She decides to follow them to a night club where, like them, she consumes a lot of alcohol. That’s when his memories fade.
She comes to her senses once she reaches a hotel room and realizes that a crutch has been inserted into her leg. She is surrounded by two naked men and several others, in uniform. There is also mention of inserting a banana and a bottle into her vagina, as well as fellatio. Coulson, Jammes and Grice admitted that they had sexual relations with the young woman but they say that she agreed, even the initiative. Farrell, who had the crutches, was in the room, along with Hayes, who also saw what happened.
Why is the exam taking place so late?
The trial will begin this Monday, December 2 before the Gironde Assize Court. Originally, it was supposed to open in June. One of the accused, Denis Coulson, was seriously injured in a car accident a few days earlier. His inability to attend the trial had caused it to be postponed. “He is still very weak, he has lost a lot of weight but he is very confident and will be there,” his lawyer, Maître Corinne Dreyfus-Schmidt, told AFP. The trial will be based during the hearings of the accused, witnesses as well as a sex tape, filmed by Denis Coulson. The victim had requested that it be held behind closed doors in June.
What are both sides saying?
“This young girl may not have wanted what happened but her behavior did not indicate to these boys, at least to my client, that she disapproved,” Coulson’s lawyer believes. “When we go to a night club and drink a lot, it’s not for small talk. We want to have relationships with boys. She was very active, ie kissed in a night club, gave him oral sex in the taxi, she says. signs saying: I’m up for it,” she continues.
The victim was extremely drunk. According to a toxicologist, she had between 2.2 and 3 grams of alcohol per liter of blood. According to video surveillance images, she had difficulty standing when she arrived at the hotel, to the point where she was “constantly held down” by a player, the prosecution notes.
“One doesn’t have to be perfect from getting up to going to bed. Cadiot-Feidt. “The duty, when we find a dangerous situation in a person, is to protect them. Without changing into a superhero, we can call a taxi and not take advantage, or let them take advantage, of the position of weakness in which she finds herself. herself,” she said.
2024-12-01 21:31:00
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## World Today News Expert Interview:
**Title:** ‘A Stain on the Sport’: Experts React to Grenoble Rugby rape Trial
**Lead:** Five former Grenoble rugby players face trial this week for alleged gang rape, casting a long shadow over the sport and raising uncomfortable questions about culture and accountability.
**Interviewee:** Dr. Angela Davies,Professor of Sociology specializing in sport and gender at the University of Birmingham.
**WTN:** Dr. Davies, thank you for joining us. This case has sent shockwaves through the rugby world. What are your initial thoughts on these allegations?
**Davies:** It’s deeply disturbing. These are extremely serious charges, and regardless of the outcome of the trial, the accusations themselves represent a profound failure. They raise significant concerns about the culture within rugby, especially regarding the treatment of women.
**WTN:** The alleged incident occurred in 2017. Why is it only coming to trial now?
**Davies:** Delays in sexual assault cases are regrettably all to common. There are many factors that can contribute to this, including complex investigations, legal processes, and victim reluctance to come forward. It’s crucial to remember that this delay can be incredibly tough for survivors.
**WTN: ** How might this case impact perceptions of rugby, both in France and internationally?
**Davies:** This case has the potential to significantly damage rugby’s reputation. It reinforces existing criticisms about a culture of machismo and misogyny within the sport. It’s essential that rugby governing bodies take proactive steps to address this, not just through punitive measures, but also through education and a genuine commitment to fostering a culture of respect.
**WTN:** What specific changes would you like to see implemented within rugby to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future?
**Davies:** I’d like to see a multi-pronged approach. firstly, there needs to be mandatory training for all players and staff on consent, respect, and bystander intervention. Secondly, rugby authorities need to establish clear and obvious policies for reporting and investigating sexual assault allegations, ensuring that survivors are supported and their voices heard. there must be a concerted effort to challenge and dismantle the harmful stereotypes and attitudes that perpetuate violence against women within the sport.
**WTN:** This trial will inevitably be a highly emotional and closely watched event. What message do you have for those following the case, particularly survivors of sexual assault?
**Davies**: It’s significant to remember that justice looks different for everyone. For some, it may involve a conviction; for others, it may be about feeling heard and believed. Regardless of the trial’s outcome, survivors should know that they are not alone and there are resources available to support them.
**WTN:** Dr. Davies, thank you for your time and valuable insights.
**(End Interview)**
