One of the lawyers for the young woman raped by Denis Coulson and two other rugby players has said the sentences handed down to the three men has sent a strong signal to the world of rugby.

Former Irish rugby player Denis Coulson has been sentenced by a court in France to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of raping a woman in ­Bordeaux in 2017.

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.

Three professional rugby players who participated in or witnessed the sexual assault of a student, identified only as V., in a hotel on the outskirts of Bordeaux in 2017 were on Friday given jail

New Zealander Rory Grice, 34, has been sentenced to 12 years in jail over the 2017 gang rape of a student after a drunken night out.

Five former Grenoble players, including Ireland centre Chris Farrell, have been handed varying sentences after being found guilty following a gang rape trial in Bordeaux.