1996–97 Leinster Rugby season

1996–97 Leinster Rugby season Donnybrook, Dublin Jim GlennonCiaran CallanPaul Dean Chris Pim Heineken Cup (3rd in pool)IRFU Interprovincial Championship (2nd of 4) 1995–96 1997–98 The 1996-97 season was Leinster's second season under professionalism. Ciaran Callan was officially head coach, but team manager Jim Glennon was in overall charge, with Callan coaching the forwards and Paul Dean coaching the backs.Hugh Farrelly, The Coaching Revolution", Irish Independent, 20 May 2011 Chris Pim was captain. They finished third in their pool in the Heineken Cup, and second in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. At this stage the Irish provinces were still representative teams, not professional clubs. However, the provinces were now offering contracts and match fees for Heineken Cup and Interprovincial matches, although these contracts sometimes conflicted with players contracted to clubs in England."Reid's cautionary note on contracts", Belfast Telegraph, 23 March 1996 Players selected Leinster Rugby squadProps IRE rugby union Paul Flavin (Blackrock) IRE rugby union Henry Hurley (Moseley) IRE rugby union Angus McKeen (Lansdowne) IRE rugby union Paul Wallace (Saracens) Hookers IRE rugby union James Blaney (Terenure) IRE rugby union Shane Byrne (Blackrock) IRE rugby union Mark McDermott (Lansdowne) Locks IRE rugby union Greg Duffy (Old Wesley) IRE rugby union Neil Francis (Old Belvedere) IRE rugby union Steve Jameson (St Mary's College) IRE rugby union Malcolm O'Kelly (London Irish)Back row IRE rugby union Victor Costello (London Irish) IRE rugby union Kelvin Leahy (Wanderers) NZL Dean Oswald (Blackrock) IRE rugby union Chris Pim (Old Wesley) (c) IRE rugby union Stephen Rooney (Landsowne) IRE rugby union Kevin Spicer (Oxford) Scrum-halves IRE rugby union Niall Hogan (Oxford/Terenure) IRE rugby union Alain Rolland (Blackrock) Fly-halves IRE rugby union Richard Governey (Landsdowne) IRE rugby union Alan McGowan (Blackrock)Centres IRE rugby union Vince Cunningham (St Mary's) IRE rugby union Ray McIlreavy (St Mary's) IRE rugby union Kurt McQuilkin (Lansdowne) IRE rugby union Martin Ridge (Old Belvedere) Wings IRE rugby union Paddy Gavin (Old Belvedere) IRE rugby union Darragh O'Mahony (Lansdowne) IRE rugby union Denis Hickie (St Mary's College) IRE rugby union David Coleman (Terenure) IRE rugby union Girvan Dempsey (Terenure) Fullbacks IRE rugby union Peter McKenna (Old Belvedere) IRE rugby union Ciaran Clarke (Terenure) (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. Squad Heineken Cup 1996–97 Heineken Cup TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts ENG Leicester44001431111443718 WAL Llanelli42029909781164 Ireland rugby union Leinster4202912−386109−234 FRA Pau410319109137103342 SCO Scottish Borders4103724−1780178−982 12 October 199614:30 Llanelli WAL 34–17 ReportKieran Rooney, "Brillian Botica makes it a black day for Leinster", Evening Herald, 12 October 1996 IRE rugby union Leinster WyattMoonBoobyer Botica (2) Botica (5) GavinMcKennaO'Mahony Governey Stradey Park 2,800 L Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Neil Francis, 5. Malcolm O'Kelly, 6. Chris Pim, 7. Stephen Rooney, 8. Victor Costello, 9. Alain Rolland, 10. Richard Governey, 11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Ray McIlreavy, 14. Paddy Gavin. 15. Peter McKenna. Replacement: Niall Hogan. 16 October 199618:45 Leinster IRE rugby union 10–27 ReportJohn O'Sullivan, "Leinster mauled by Tigers", Irish Independent, 17 October 1996 ENG Leicester Tigers Penalty try McGowan McGowan RowntreeKardooniWells Liley (3) Liley (2) Lansdowne Road 3,500 L Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Neil Francis, 5. Malcolm O'Kelly, 6. Chris Pim, 7. Victor Costello, 8. Stephen Rooney, 9. Alain Rolland, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Martin Ridge, 13. Kurt McQuilkin, 14. Patrick Gavin. 15. Peter McKenna. Replacement: Ciaran Clarke, Richard Governey. 26 October 199614:30 Borders SCO 25–34 Report"Leinster toast a Heineken victory", Sunday World, 27 October 1996 IRE rugby union Leinster AitkenChanglengParker Parker (2) Parker (2) OswaldClarkeMcGowanHickie McGowan McGowan (4) The Greenyards 3,500 W Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Angus McKeen, 4. Neil Francis, 5. Malcolm O'Kelly, 6. Chris Pim, 7. Dean Oswald, 8. Victor Costello, 9. Niall Hogan, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie. 15. Ciaran Clarke. Replacements: Girvan Dempsey, Stephen Rooney. 2 November 199614:30 Leinster IRE rugby union 25–23 ReportJohn O'Sullivan, "Mac's boot floors Pau", Evening Herald, 2 November 1996 FRA Pau McQuilkin McGowan McGowan (6) ClaveriePailleAucagne Aucagne Aucagne (2) Donnybrook 4,000 W Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Malcolm O'Kelly, 5. Neil Francis, 6. Chris Pim, 7. Victor Costello, 8. Dean Oswald, 9. Niall Hogan, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie. 15. Ciaran Clarke. Replacements: James Blaney, Stephen Rooney. IRFU Interprovincial Championship IRFU Interprovincial Championship Team P W D LFA BPPts Statusleft Munster Munster 3 3 0 0 117 92 - 6 Champions; qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cupleft Leinster Leinster 3 1 0 2 88 92 - 2 Qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cupleft Ulster Ulster 3 1 0 2 81 89 - 2 Qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cupleft Connacht Connacht 3 1 0 2 77 90 - 2 Qualified for 1997–98 European Challenge Cup 21 September 1996 Ulster Ulster 25-35 PreviewJim Stokes, "Ulster seek sweet revenge", Belfast Telegraph, 20 September 1996ReportPeter O'Reilly, "Leinster pack steamrolls ahead", The Sunday Tribune, 22 September 1996 Leinster Leinster RitchieDuncanTopping Laing (2) Laing (2) McKenna (2)JamesonSpicer Governey (3) Governey (3) Ravenhill L. Mayne W Leinster lieup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Angus McKeen (Lansdowne), 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Greg Duffy, 6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Dean Oswald, 8. Kevin Spicer, 9. Niall Hogan, 10. Richard Governey, 11. Denis Hickie (St. Mary's), 12. Kurt McQuilkin (Lansdowne), 13. Martin Ridge (Old Belvedere), 14. David Coleman (Terenure), 15. Peter McKenna (Old Belvedere). 28 September 1996 Leinster Leinster 40–45 Reporthttps://munsterrugby.ie/match-stats/?FixGuid=96LM0805 Leinster 40-45 Leinster Munster Rugby 7 June 2019"Marvellous Munster best in a classic", Limerick Leader, 30 September 1996 Munster Munster ColemanRidgeMcQuilkinFrancisHickie Governey (3) Governey (3) Galwey (2)Halvey BegleyLynch (2) Begley (8)Lynch (2) Keane Donnybrook Graham Hughes L Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Angus McKeen, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Neil Francis, 6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Stephen Rooney, 8. Kevin Spicer, 9. Alain Rolland, 10. Richard Governey, 11. Denis Hickie, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. David Coleman, 15. Peter McKenna. Replacements: Girvan Dempsey (for Coleman), Paul Flavin (for McKeen). 5 October 1996 Connacht Connacht 22-13 Report"Eric makes it 'ell for Leinster", Sunday Life, 6 October 1996 Leinster Leinster LeahyElwood Elwood (3) Francis Governey Governey (2) Galway Sportsgrounds Leinster lineup: 1. Paul Flavin, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Angus McKeen, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Neil Francis, 6. Kelvin Leahy, 7. Kevin Spicer, 8. Stephen Rooney, 9. Alain Rolland (c), 10. Richard Governey, 11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Paddy Gavin, 15. Peter McKenna. Replacements: Shane Byrne (for McDermott 30'), Vince Cunningham (for Ridge 35'), Greg Duffy (for Francis 38'). L References 1996-97 Category:1996–97 in Irish rugby union Category:1996–97 Heineken Cup