The Oyonnax Rugby club separates from its two players convicted of gang rape

Last December, Rory Grice and Chris Farrell were respectively sentenced to 12 years in prison and 4 years, two of which were suspended.

Oyonnax, a Pro D2 club, has terminated the contracts of Rory Grice and Chris Farrell, convicted in December respectively for rape in a meeting and for having witnessed the events without having intervened, announced Thursday January 9, the Rugby club of Ain. “After learning of the criminal convictions handed down against the two players, the members of the Council unanimously took the decision to terminate the contracts of Rory Grice and Chris Farrell”specifies the club press release.

Rory Grice, a 34-year-old New Zealand third row, was sentenced on December 13, 2024 by the Gironde Assize Court to 12 years in prison for having raped a young woman in 2017 in Bordeaux, after a very alcoholic evening which had followed a Grenoble match in the Top 14. Arriving in Oyonnax in 2017, he appealed the court decision.

Irishman Chris Farrell (31) was sentenced to four years in prison, two of which were suspended, for having witnessed all or part of the events without intervening. He did not appeal, even though he had signed for Ain in 2023, after a stint in Munster.

Other former Grenoble players, the Irishman Denis Coulson, now retired, and the Frenchman Loïck Jammes, who plays in Aix-en-Provence in Pro D2, were sentenced to 14 years in prison, while the Neo- Zealander Dylan Hayes (30 years old, retired) received four years in prison, two of which were suspended. Loïck Jammes, who also appealed, has played for Provence Rugby since 2019. The club announced “reserve the right to make additional decisions” against his hooker, while ensuring “obviously respect the possibility of appeal”.