1997–98 Ulster Rugby season

Professional provincial Rugby Union playing season October 2023 October 2023 1997–98 Ulster Rugby season Ravenhill Stadium 12,500 Davy Haslett Stephen McKinty Stuart Laing (115) Jan Cunningham (2)Stan McDowell (2) Heineken Cup (4th in pool)IRFU Interprovincial Championship (3rd of 4) _collar _borderonwhite _band_white FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FF0000 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.John Winter, "Who Owns Ulster Rugby? (Explained)", Rugby Dome, 10 October 2022Ulster Rugby Limited, Companies Check, retrieved 17 December 2023 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."Seventy six players win IRFU contracts", Irish Independent, 17 July 1997 Each province could have a maximum of 30 contracted players.Barry Coughlan, "IRFU brings home the message with provincial contracts", Irish Examiner, 1 May 1998 Mark McCall was offered a full-time contract, but turned it down and signed for London Irish, making him unavailable for Ulster this season.Jim Stokes, "Mark off to join Exiles", Belfast Telegraph, 17 July 1997. 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). 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 family 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.Jonathan Bradley, The Last Amateurs: The Incredible Story of Ulster Rugby's 1999 European Champions, The Blackstaff Press, 201810-12 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.Jim Stokes, "Ulster's pride lies in tatters", 9 January 1998 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 Ulster Rugby squadProps IRE rugby union Richard Mackey, Malone IRE rugby union Gary Leslie, Dungannon IRE rugby union Rab Irwin, Ballymena Hookers IRE rugby union Stephen Ritchie, Ballymena IRE rugby union Ciaran O'Kane (Portadown) IRE rugby union Michael Patton (Dungannon) Locks IRE rugby union Tony McWhirter, Ballymena IRE rugby union Gary Longwell, Ballymena IRE rugby union Murtagh Rea, Malone IRE rugby union Charlie Simpson, DungannonBack row IRE rugby union Stephen McKinty, Bangor IRE rugby union Keith Gallick, City of Derry NZL Andy Ward, Ballynahinch* IRE rugby union Roger Wilson,Note: not the Roger Wilson who played for Ulster from 2003 to 2008, and from 2021 to 2017. Instonians IRE rugby union Stuart Duncan, Malone IRE rugby union Kevin McKee, Instonians IRE rugby union Dean Macartney, Ballymena Scrum-halves IRE rugby union Andrew Matchett, Ballymena IRE rugby union Stephen Bell, Dungannon IRE rugby union Kenton Hillman, Instonians Fly-halves SCO Stuart Laing, Portadown IRE rugby union Bryn Cunningham, BectiveCentres IRE rugby union Maurice Field, Malone IRE rugby union Stan McDowell, Ballymena IRE rugby union Michael Jackson, Blackrock Wings IRE rugby union James Topping, Ballymena IRE rugby union Sheldon Coulter, Ballymena IRE rugby union Jan Cunningham, TCD IRE rugby union Andy Park, Ballymena IRE rugby union Graeme McCluskey, Portadown IRE rugby union Scott Carroll, Malone Fullbacks IRE rugby union Robin Morrow, Dungannon IRE rugby union Ross Collins, Collegians (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. Squad Season record Competition Played Won Drawn Lost PF PA PD TF TA 1997-98 Heineken Cup 6 1 0 5 95 195 -100 6 23 IRFU Interprovincial Championship 3 1 0 2 59 65 -6 4 6 Total 9 2 0 7 154 260 -106 10 29 1997–98 Heineken Cup 1997–98 Heineken Cup Pool 2 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts ENG Wasps660031121924310413912 SCO Glasgow63031415−1132167−356 WAL Swansea 62041516−1157161−44 Ireland rugby union Ulster6105623−1795195−1002 8 September 1997 19:00 Ulster IRE rugby union 12 – 18 Report"Ulster throw away victory", Irish Independent, 9 September 1997Match centre SCO Glasgow Laing (3) Laing CraigWallace Hayes Hayes (2) Ravenhill, Belfast 2,100 L 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. Replacement: Roger Wilson 13 September 1997 14:00 Swansea WAL 33 – 16 Report"Thomas gives Ulster the boot", Sunday Independent, 14 September 1997"Thomas sends Ulster packing", Evening Herald, 13 September 1997Match centre IRE rugby union Ulster GibbsH. Thomas A. Thomas A. Thomas (7) Gallick Laing Laing (3) St. Helen's, Swansea 3,000 K. McCartney L 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. Replacements: Andy Park, Michael Patton 21 September 1997 15:00 London Wasps ENG 56 – 3 Report"Ulster badly stung", Irish Independent, 22 September 1997Peter Llewellyn, "Rugby Union: Wasps bring lasting pain as Logan runs riot", The Independent, 21 September 1997Match centre IRE rugby union Ulster MitchellWoodKingLogan (3)GreenstockRosier Rees (5) Rees Laing Loftus Road Stadium, London 4,120 L 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 IRE rugby union 28 – 20 ReportMicheal McGeary, "Ulster Thriller", Sunday Life, 28 September 1997Match centre WAL Swansea Penalty tryJacksonMcWhirter Laing (2) Laing (3) Rees (2)Williams Williams Williams Ravenhill, Belfast 2,500 George Hughes W 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. Replacements: Andy Park, Roger Wilson. 3 October 1997 19:30 Ulster IRE rugby union 21 – 38 ReportJim Stokes, "Wasps have to fight for Ulster win", Belfast Telegraph, 4 October 1997"Wasps take sting out of Ulster", Irish Independent, 4 October 1997Match centre ENG London Wasps Jan Cunningham (2) Laing Laing (3) HendersonRosierWhiteGreenstockDallaglio Rees (5) Rees Ravenhill, Belfast 3,250 L 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), Andy Park 12 October 1997 15:00 Glasgow SCO 30 – 15 Report"Flat Ulster fail to learn hard lesson", Belfast Telegraph, 13 October 1997Match centre IRE rugby union Ulster Penalty tryStottHayes Hayes (3) Hayes (3) Laing (5) Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow 4,000 L 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 IRFU Interprovincial Championship Team P W D LFA BPPts Statusleft Leinster 3 2 0 1 61 46 - 8 Champions; qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cupleft Munster 3 2 0 1 56 43 - 8 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cupleft Ulster 3 1 0 2 59 65 - 4 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cupleft Connacht 3 1 0 2 42 64 - 4 Qualified for 1998–99 European Challenge Cup 16 August 1997 Leinster Leinster 26-25 ReportMichael McGeary, "Adding Insult to Injury", Sunday Life, 17 August 1997 Ulster Ulster RollandHickieO'Mahony Rolland Governey (3) Laing Laing Laing (6) Donnybrook, Dublin David McHugh L 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 ReportMichael McGeary, "Ulster Shamed in Wild West", Sunday Life, 24 August 1997 Ulster Ulster McEnteeMurphyCharlie Elwood (3) Elwood (2) McDowell (2) Laing (2) Laing The Sportsground, Galway L. Mayne L 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 ReportMicheal McGeary, "Ulster enjoy a field day at last", Sunday Life, 31 August 1997 Munster Munster Park Laing Laing (4) Laing O'Gara (4) Ravenhill, Belfast M. White W 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 Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance––––– 1997–98 Heineken Cup32,617 3,2502,1007,8502,617 Friendlies 9 August 1997 Ulster IRE rugby union 19-41 Report"Ulster 19 Richmond 41", Sunday Independent, 10 August 1997 ENG Richmond MackeyCoulterIrwin Laing (2) Chapman (3)Pini (2)WrightQuinnell Pini (2) Palace Grounds, Armagh M. White L 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 The inaugural Guinness Ulster Rugby Awards dinner was held on 20 May 1998 at the Balmoral Conference Centre. Winners were:Jim Stokes, "Handy Andy is tops", Belfast Telegraph, 21 May 1998 Player of the year: Andy Ward Personality of the year: Andy Ward Club of the year: Ballynahinch RFC Coach of the year: Charlie McAleese, Dromore High School Youth player of the year: Diarmuid O'Kane, St Colman's College, Newry Schools player of the year: Andy Hughes, Royal School Dungannon Dorrington B. Faulkner Memorial Award: Ken Reid, former IRFU president and Ireland team manager References 1997-98 Category:1997–98 in Irish rugby union Category:1997–98 Heineken Cup