Former Ireland rugby international Chris Farrell has been sacked by French club Oyonnax following his conviction in a rape trial.
Last December, the former Munster player Farrell was sentenced to four years, with two years suspended, for failure to prevent a crime. Farrell will not serve prison time but must wear an electronic tag for two years and remain in France.
The rugby player Farrell was one of five individuals convicted in connection with the rape of a woman in April 2017 while playing for Grenoble.
Denis Coulson (Ireland, prop) and Loick Jammes (France) were sentenced to 14 years in prison for rape. Rory Grice (New Zealand) was also sentenced to 12 years for rape.
Farrell was not charged with rape but was found guilty of failing to prevent the crime. Dylan Hayes (New Zealand) was also convicted of failure to prevent a crime, receiving a two-year suspended sentence.
Farrell and Grice were playing for Oyonnax until 29 November, but the club terminated their contracts on 9 January.
Irish rugby player Chris Farrell (L), who is charged with failing to prevent a crime, arrives with his lawyer François Saint-Pierre for the trial at the Bordeaux courthouse (Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP) (Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU/AFP via Getty Images) )“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,” the club confirmed in a press release issued on Thursday morning, January 9.
“Also, after having taken note of the criminal convictions handed down against the two players, the members of the Council have unanimously decided to terminate the contracts of Rory Grice and Chris Farrell.”
Farrell joined Oyonnax from Munster in March 2023, having been stood down from playing duties in September 2022 when his case was referred to the Assises Court of Gironde.
The centre played 15 times for Ireland, while he also represented his native Ulster earlier in his career.
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