1997–98 Ulster Rugby season

1997–98 Ulster Rugby season
Ground(s)Ravenhill Stadium (Capacity: 12,500)
Coach(es)Davy Haslett
Captain(s)Stephen McKinty
Top scorerStuart Laing (115)
Most triesJan Cunningham (2)
Stan McDowell (2)
League(s)Heineken Cup (4th in pool)
IRFU Interprovincial Championship (3rd of 4)
Team kit
← 1996–97 1998–99 →

The 1997–98 season was Ulster Rugby's third season under professionalism, during which they competed in the Heineken Cup and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. Ulster Rugby Limited was incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee on 9 May 1997.[1][2]

The IRFU offered new contracts for provincial players for this season. Full-time players would receive a retainer of £25,000, plus a win bonus of £500 for Heineken Cup matches. Part-time players would be paid a retainer of £7,500, plus a match fee of £400 for Interprovincial matches and £800 for the Heineken Cup, and a win bonus of £450 for both competitions.[3] Each province could have a maximum of 30 contracted players.[4]

Mark McCall was offered a full-time contract, but turned it down and signed for London Irish, making him unavailable for Ulster this season.[5] Full-time contracts were also offered to Jan Cunningham and Stephen Bell, and part-time contracts to Sheldon Coulter, Gary Longwell, Andrew Matchett, Dean Macartney and Tony McWhirter (Ballymena), Stuart Duncan, Richard Mackey and Denis McBride (Malone), Gary Leslie and John Patterson (Dungannon), Clem Boyd (Bedford), Bryn Cunningham (Bective), Stuart Laing (Portadown), Stephen McKinty (Bangor), and Andy Ward (Ballynahinch).[5]

After the departure of Tony Russ, Clive Griffiths was lined up to take over as head coach, but withdrew in the summer. Davy Haslett, a geography teacher at RBAI, was offered the position on the eve of the 1997 Ireland A rugby union tour of Oceania, on which he was assistant coach. Between returning from that tour and a pre-booked famility holiday, he only had four weeks to work with the team before the season started. Charlie McAleese was appointed assistant coach, and John Kinnear team manager.[6]: 10–12  Ulster finished third in the Interprovincial Championship, and bottom of their pool in the Heineken Cup.

A representative match against South African side Geuteng Falcons in early 1998, for which Ulster were to be coached by Ballymena coach Nelie Smith, was called off after clubs refused to release their players.[7]

Paddy Johns and Andy Ward were selected for the Ireland squad for the 1998 Five Nations Championship. Johns, Ward and James Topping were selected for the 1998 tour to South Africa.

Players selected

[edit]
Ulster Rugby squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.

1997–98 Heineken Cup

[edit]
Main article: 1997–98 Heineken Cup

Pool 2

[edit]
Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
England Wasps 6 6 0 0 31 12 19 243 104 139 12
Scotland Glasgow 6 3 0 3 14 15 −1 132 167 −35 6
Wales Swansea 6 2 0 4 15 16 −1 157 161 −4 4
Ireland Ulster 6 1 0 5 6 23 −17 95 195 −100 2
8 September 1997
19:00 		Ulster Ireland 12 – 18 Scotland Glasgow Ravenhill  
Pen: Laing (3)
Drop: Laing
 Report[9] Try: Craig
Wallace
Con: Hayes
Pen: Hayes (2)
 Attendance: 2,100
Ulster lineup:

1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie,
4. Tony McWhirter, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Stephen McKinty, 7. Keith Gallick, 8. Andy Ward,
9. Stephen Bell, 10. Stuart Laing,
11. Sheldon Coulter, 12. James Topping, 13. Maurice Field, 14. Jan Cunningham,
15. Robin Morrow.

13 September 1997
14:00 		Swansea Wales 33 – 16 Ireland Ulster St. Helen's  
Try: Gibbs
H. Thomas
Con: A. Thomas
Pen: A. Thomas (7)
 Report[10][11] Try: Gallick
Con: Laing
Pen: Laing (3)
 Attendance: 3,000
Referee: K. McCartney
Ulster lineup:

1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie,
4. Tony McWhirter, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Stephen McKinty, 7. Keith Gallick, 8. Andy Ward,
9. Stephen Bell, 10. Stuart Laing,
11. Sheldon Coulter, 12. James Topping, 13. Maurice Field, 14. Jan Cunningham,
15. Robin Morrow.

21 September 1997
15:00 		London Wasps England 56 – 3 Ireland Ulster Loftus Road Stadium  
Try: Mitchell
Wood
King
Logan (3)
Greenstock
Rosier
Con: Rees (5)
Pen: Rees
 Report[12][13] Pen: Laing
 Attendance: 4,120
Ulster lineup:

1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Rab Irwin,
4. Tony McWhirter, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Stephen McKinty, 7. Keith Gallick, 8. Andy Ward,
9. Andrew Matchett, 10. Stuart Laing,
11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Maurice Field, 13. Stan McDowell, 14. James Topping,
15. Robin Morrow.
Replacements:
Ciaran O'Kane (for Ritchie, 12–24), Roger Wilson (for Gallick, 63), Murtagh Rea (for Longwell, 12–16; for McWhirter, 74),
Bryn Cunningham (for Laing, 70), Stephen Bell (for Field, 75)

27 September 1997
14:30 		Ulster Ireland 28 – 20 Wales Swansea Ravenhill  
Try: Penalty try
Jackson
McWhirter
Con: Laing (2)
Pen: Laing (3)
 Report[14] Try: Rees (2)
Williams
Con: Williams
Pen: Williams
 Attendance: 2,500
Referee: George Hughes
Ulster lineup:

1. Rab Irwin, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie,
4. Tony McWhirter, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Stephen McKinty, 7. Keith Gallick, 8. Andy Ward,
9. Andrew Matchett, 10. Stuart Laing,
11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Maurice Field, 13. Michael Jackson, 14. James Topping,
15. Robin Morrow.

3 October 1997
19:30 		Ulster Ireland 21 – 38 England London Wasps Ravenhill  
Try: Jan Cunningham (2)
Con: Laing
Pen: Laing (3)
 Report[15][16] Try: Henderson
Rosier
White
Greenstock
Dallaglio
Con: Rees (5)
Pen: Rees
 Attendance: 3,250
Ulster lineup:

1. Gary Lesie, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Rab Irwin,
4. Tony McWhirter, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Stephen McKinty, 7. Keith Gallick, 8. Andy Ward,
9. Andrew Matchett, 10. Stuart Laing,
11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Maurice Field, 13. Michael Jackson, 14. James Topping,
15. Stan McDowell.
Replacements:
Murtagh Rea (for McWhirter, 60), Roger Wilson (for Gallick, 60).

12 October 1997
15:00 		Glasgow Scotland 30 – 15 Ireland Ulster Scotstoun Stadium  
Try: Penalty try
Stott
Hayes
Con: Hayes (3)
Pen: Hayes (3)
 Report[17] Pen: Laing (5)
 Attendance: 4,000
Ulster lineup:

1. Gary Lesie, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Rab Irwin,
4. Tony McWhirter, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Stephen McKinty, 7. Keith Gallick, 8. Andy Ward,
9. Andrew Matchett, 10. Stuart Laing,
11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Maurice Field, 13. Michael Jackson, 14. James Topping,
15. Stan McDowell.
Replacements:
Roger Wilson (for Gallick, 56), Murtagh Rea (for McWhirter, 64).

1997–98 IRFU Interprovincial Championship

[edit]
Main article: IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D L F A BP Pts Status
3 2 0 1 61 46 - 8 Champions; qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup
3 2 0 1 56 43 - 8 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup
3 1 0 2 59 65 - 4 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup
3 1 0 2 42 64 - 4 Qualified for 1998–99 European Challenge Cup
16 August 1997 Leinster Leinster 26-25 Ulster Ulster Donnybrook  
Try: Rolland
Hickie
O'Mahony
Con: Rolland
Pen: Governey (3)
 Report[18] Try: Laing
Con: Laing
Pen: Laing (6)
 Referee: David McHugh
Ulster lineup:

1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie,
4. Tony McWhirter, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Roger Wilson, 7. Stephen McKinty, 8. Andy Ward,
9. Kenton Hillman, 10. Stuart Laing,
11. Graeme McCluskey, 12. Stan McDowell, 13. Sheldon Coulter, 14. Jan Cunningham,
15. Robin Morrow.
Replacements: Rab Irwin (for Leslie).

23 August 1997 Connacht Connacht 27-17 Ulster Ulster Galway Sportsgrounds  
Try: McEntee
Murphy
Charlie
Con: Elwood (3)
Pen: Elwood (2)
 Report[19] Try: McDowell (2)
Con: Laing (2)
Pen: Laing
 Referee: L. Mayne
Ulster lineup:

1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie,
4. Tony McWhirter, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Stephen McKinty, 7. Roger Wilson, 8. Andy Ward,
9. Stephen Bell, 10. Stuart Laing,
11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Stan McDowell, 13. Sheldon Coulter, 14. Andy Park,
15. Robin Morrow.

30 August 1997 Ulster Ulster 22-12 Munster Munster Ravenhill  
Try: Park
Con: Laing
Pen: Laing (4)
Drop: Laing
 Report[20] Pen: O'Gara (4)
 Referee: M. White
Ulster lineup:

1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie,
4. Tony McWhirter, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Stephen McKinty, 7. Keith Gallick, 8. Andy Ward,
9. Stephen Bell, 10. Stuart Laing,
11. Sheldon Coulter, 12. Maurice Field, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. Andy Park,
15. Robin Morrow.

Home attendance

[edit]
Domestic League European Cup Total
League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance
– – – – – 1997–98 Heineken Cup 3 2,617 3,250 2,100 7,850 2,617

Friendlies

[edit]
9 August 1997 Ulster Ireland 19-41 England Richmond Palace Grounds, Armagh  
Try: Mackey
Coulter
Irwin
Con: Laing (2)
 Report[21] Try: Chapman (3)
Pini (2)
Wright
Quinnell
Con: Pini (2)
 Referee: M. White
Ulster lineup:

1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie,
4. Tony McWhirter, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Stephen McKinty, 8. Andy Ward,
9. Stephen Bell, 10. Stuart Laing,
11. Scott Carroll, 12. Sheldon Coulter, 13. Michael Jackson, 14. Andy Park,
15. Jan Cunningham.
Replacements:
Murtagh Rea, Kevin McKee, Rab Irwin, Dean Macartney, Roger Wilson,
Kenton Hillman, Michael Patton, Charlie Simpson, Bryn Cunningham, Ross Collins.

Ulster Rugby Awards

[edit]

The inaugural Guinness Ulster Rugby Awards dinner was held on 20 May 1998 at the Balmoral Conference Centre. Winners were:[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ John Winter, "Who Owns Ulster Rugby? (Explained)", Rugby Dome, 10 October 2022
  2. ^ Ulster Rugby Limited, Companies Check, retrieved 17 December 2023
  3. ^ "Seventy six players win IRFU contracts", Irish Independent, 17 July 1997
  4. ^ Barry Coughlan, "IRFU brings home the message with provincial contracts", Irish Examiner, 1 May 1998
  5. ^ a b Jim Stokes, "Mark off to join Exiles", Belfast Telegraph, 17 July 1997.
  6. ^ Jonathan Bradley, The Last Amateurs: The Incredible Story of Ulster Rugby's 1999 European Champions, The Blackstaff Press, 2018
  7. ^ Jim Stokes, "Ulster's pride lies in tatters", 9 January 1998
  8. ^ Note: not the Roger Wilson who played for Ulster from 2003 to 2008, and from 2021 to 2017.
  9. ^ "Ulster throw away victory", Irish Independent, 9 September 1997
  10. ^ "Thomas gives Ulster the boot", Sunday Independent, 14 September 1997
  11. ^ "Thomas sends Ulster packing", Evening Herald, 13 September 1997
  12. ^ "Ulster badly stung", Irish Independent, 22 September 1997
  13. ^ Peter Llewellyn, "Rugby Union: Wasps bring lasting pain as Logan runs riot", The Independent, 21 September 1997
  14. ^ Micheal McGeary, "Ulster Thriller", Sunday Life, 28 September 1997
  15. ^ Jim Stokes, "Wasps have to fight for Ulster win", Belfast Telegraph, 4 October 1997
  16. ^ "Wasps take sting out of Ulster", Irish Independent, 4 October 1997
  17. ^ "Flat Ulster fail to learn hard lesson", Belfast Telegraph, 13 October 1997
  18. ^ Michael McGeary, "Adding Insult to Injury", Sunday Life, 17 August 1997
  19. ^ Michael McGeary, "Ulster Shamed in Wild West", Sunday Life, 24 August 1997
  20. ^ Micheal McGeary, "Ulster enjoy a field day at last", Sunday Life, 31 August 1997
  21. ^ "Ulster 19 Richmond 41", Sunday Independent, 10 August 1997
  22. ^ Jim Stokes, "Handy Andy is tops", Belfast Telegraph, 21 May 1998
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