GRENOBLE’S POOR START to the Challenge Cup continued last night with a 25-15 defeat at home to London Irish, but there was positive news from an Irish point of view.
Loosehead prop Denis Coulson made his second appearance for the Top 14 club after coming off the bench to replace Remy Hughes in the 67th minute. Coulsen was also used as a replacement in last weekend’s defeat to the Cardiff Blues.
The former St. Michael’s student played with the Ireland U20s last season, doing enough to convince Bernard Jackman and the rest of the coaching staff at FCG to sign him to an espoirs contract during the summer.
Jackman had previously been aware of Coulson’s potential due to a coaching stint at St. Michael’s, with whom the prop won the 2012 Leinster Schools Senior Cup.
Irish scrum-half James Hart kicked all of Grenoble’s points in the loss to London Irish last night with five penalties, having scored nine points against the Blues in round one.
Tom Court and Tomás O’Leary both started for London Irish at Stade Lesdiguières, with Conor Gilsenan and former Connacht centre Eoin Griffin both used off the bench. Irish-qualified centre Fergus Mulchrone scored a try for the Exiles.
