[1] Coughlan made his Munster debut against Cardiff Blues in the Celtic League in September 2006,[2] and his performances in his first season earned him a full contract.

[8] Coughlan was ruled out of the remainder of the 2011–12 season after a fractured bone in his hand, sustained in Munster's Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat against Ulster on 8 April 2012, required surgery.

[15] Coughlan announced that he was retiring from rugby union upon the conclusion of the 2016–17 season, bringing to an end his 11-year professional career in which he won 139 caps for Munster, 69 for Pau and 1 for Ireland Wolfhounds.

[16] Coughlan was called into the senior Ireland squad for the 2012 Six Nations Championship to replace the injured Leo Cullen, but did not feature in the tournament.

[17] He was also called up to the Ireland squad for the uncapped warm-up against the Barbarians on 29 May 2012 in Gloucester,[18] coming on in the 60th minute for Chris Henry in the 29–28 defeat.