IRISH PROP DENIS Coulson has signed a new contract with Top 14 side Grenoble, keeping him at the club until 2017 at least.

The former Ireland U20 loosehead originally joined Bernard Jackman’s Grenoble on academy terms last summer, but has now earned an espoirs deal [similar to a development contract in Ireland].

Despite having been part of Grenoble’s centre de formation, 20-year-old Coulson has been training with the club’s senior squad all season and has already made three first-team appearances.

His debut came in the Challenge Cup against the Cardiff Blues in October, before he was used off the bench against London Irish the following week. In early November, Coulson made his Top 14 bow, playing 30 minutes off the bench against champions Toulon.

I’ve always been a big fan of Denis, I knew he could progress here,” Jackman, who first coached Coulson at St. Michael’s College, told TheScore.ie late last year.

“He got those opportunities and did well. He’s very dynamic, a real livewire. We felt he deserved a chance against Toulon, and he did very well around the pitch.”

2012 Leinster Schools Senior Cup winner Coulson played for Ireland U20s in last year’s Six Nations and Junior World Championship, racking up a total of eight caps across the two competitions.

Head coach Jackman and backs coach Mike Prendergast both extended their own contracts at Grenoble until 2017 in November, while scrum-half James Hart and centre Chris Farrell also have two more seasons to run on their deals.

Shane O’Leary spent last season with Grenoble, making five appearances in the Challenge Cup before earning a move to Pat Lam’s Connacht.

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