CONNACHT ARE SET to sign Irish loosehead prop Denis Coulson from Grenoble ahead of next season.
The 22-year-old has been with the Top 14 club since 2014, when Grenoble’s director of rugby Bernard Jackman convinced him to make the move to France.
However, The42 understands that Coulson will make the move back to Ireland this summer to join Connacht, despite having previously agreed a deal to remain in Grenoble until 2019.
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Coulson is set for a move back to Ireland. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Coulson, a former Ireland U20 international, has made 29 appearances in the French top flight over the past three seasons, including six starts during the current campaign.
The St. Michael’s College alumnus was important in helping Grenoble to a crucial 19-10 win over Racing 92 last Saturday.
Coulson played for Leinster’s underage teams and, as a fifth year, was part of the St. Michael’s side that won the 2012 Leinster Schools Senior Cup, a team that was captained by Dan Leavy.
The powerful loosehead prop secured a rugby scholarship in Carlow IT after leaving school, but his performances for the Ireland U20s in the 2014 Six Nations and Junior World Championship convinced Jackman – who had previously worked with him in St. Michael’s – to bring Coulson to France, initially on an academy contract.
The Dalkey man has developed impressively ever since and will join compatriot Chris Farrell in returning to Ireland this summer after garnering crucial top-level experience with Grenoble.
While Farrell will join Munster, Coulson is set to link up with Connacht, who will have a new head coach next season in the shape of New Zealander Kieran Keane.
- This article was updated at 11.45am on 7 March to reflect the fact that Denis Coulson had previously agreed a contract to stay with Grenoble until 2019.
Connacht set to bring Coulson back to Ireland after three years with Grenoble
CONNACHT ARE SET to sign Irish loosehead prop Denis Coulson from Grenoble ahead of next season.
The 22-year-old has been with the Top 14 club since 2014, when Grenoble’s director of rugby Bernard Jackman convinced him to make the move to France.
However, The42 understands that Coulson will make the move back to Ireland this summer to join Connacht, despite having previously agreed a deal to remain in Grenoble until 2019.
Coulson, a former Ireland U20 international, has made 29 appearances in the French top flight over the past three seasons, including six starts during the current campaign.
The St. Michael’s College alumnus was important in helping Grenoble to a crucial 19-10 win over Racing 92 last Saturday.
Coulson played for Leinster’s underage teams and, as a fifth year, was part of the St. Michael’s side that won the 2012 Leinster Schools Senior Cup, a team that was captained by Dan Leavy.
The powerful loosehead prop secured a rugby scholarship in Carlow IT after leaving school, but his performances for the Ireland U20s in the 2014 Six Nations and Junior World Championship convinced Jackman – who had previously worked with him in St. Michael’s – to bring Coulson to France, initially on an academy contract.
The Dalkey man has developed impressively ever since and will join compatriot Chris Farrell in returning to Ireland this summer after garnering crucial top-level experience with Grenoble.
While Farrell will join Munster, Coulson is set to link up with Connacht, who will have a new head coach next season in the shape of New Zealander Kieran Keane.
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- This article was updated at 11.45am on 7 March to reflect the fact that Denis Coulson had previously agreed a contract to stay with Grenoble until 2019.
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