1995–96 Leinster Rugby season

1995–96 Leinster Rugby season Donnybrook, Dublin Jim GlennonCiaran CallanPaul Dean Chris Pim Alan McGowan (92) Conor O'Shea (4) Heineken Cup (semi-final)IRFU Interprovincial Championship (champions) 1994–95 1996–97 The 1995–96 season was Leinster Rugby's first season under professionalism. Ciaran Callan was officially head coach, but team manager Jim Glennon was in overally charge, with Callan coaching the forwards and Paul Dean coaching the backs.Hugh Farrelly, The Coaching Revolution", Irish Independent, 20 May 2011 In the inaugural Heineken Cup, they won both their pool matches and qualified for the semi-final, which they lost to Cardiff. They won the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, winning all four of their matches. Background On 26 August, rugby union was declared open to professionalism. At this stage the Irish provinces were still representative teams, not professional clubs.Peter O'Reilly, "Ulster coach warns on power balance", The Sunday Tribune, 22 September 1996 Many involved in the game were concerned that domestic clubs could not afford to pay players, who could be lost to professional teams in England.Jim Stokes, "IRFU tackle 'pro' issue", Belfast Telegraph, 28 August 1995 In September, the IRFU confirmed that, for this season, only senior international players would be paid,Jim Stokes, "International players only to 'cash in'", Belfast Telegraph, 12 September 1995 with a one-year moratorium on payment for club and provincial players.Jimmy Davidson, "Market forces takes strangle hold on rugby", Belfast Telegraph, 4 November 1995 Up to 35 Ireland players would be offered £26,000 contracts for the 1996 Five Nations Championship.Jim Stokes, "Irish international players to pocket £26,000", Belfast Telegraph, 23 October 1995 That squad included Leinster players [TBC]. As the situation developed, match fees became available for Heineken Cup and Interprovincial matches, with players who appeared in all six matches in line to receive almost £3,000.Tyrone Howe, "Local game needs a professional outlook", Belfast Telegraph, 13 January 1996 The inaugural Heineken Cup was launched in the summer of 1995 on the initiative of the Five Nations Committee to provide a new level of cross border competition.http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/37_74.php European Rugby Cup : History ERC 21 March 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070208134810/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/37_74.php 8 February 2007 Twelve sides representing Ireland, Wales, Italy, Romania and France competed in four pools of three with the group winners going directly into the semi-finals.http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/79_119.php European Rugby Cup : Heineken Cup History 1995/96 ERC 21 March 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070315181143/http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/79_119.php 15 March 2007 English and Scottish teams did not take part in the inaugural competition.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/mar/30/rugbyunion.gdnsport3 Big boys plan for more lucrative Heineken Cup Paul Rees 30 March 2006 The Guardian 21 March 2007 London The IRFU confirmed that Ireland would enter provincial teams, as their clubs were unlikely to be strong enough for the competition."Ireland confirm Euro entry", Belfast Telegraph, 22 August 1995 They were initially offered two places, but Tom Kiernan, Ireland's representative on the organising committee, was able to secure a third. The three places would go to the top three teams in the 1994 IRFU Interprovincial Championship, Munster, Ulster and Leinster.Jim Stokes, "Ulster to face Cardiff?", Belfast Telegraph, 29 August 1995 Players selected Leinster Rugby squadProps IRE rugby union Paul Flavin (Blackrock College) IRE rugby union Henry Hurley (Old Wesley) IRE rugby union Angus McKeen (Lansdowne) IRE rugby union Dean Oswald (Blackrock College) IRE rugby union Paul Wallace (Blackrock College) Hookers IRE rugby union Shane Byrne (Blackrock College) Locks IRE rugby union Neil Francis (Old Belevdere) IRE rugby union Steve Jameson (St Mary's College) IRE rugby union Malcolm O'Kelly (St Mary's College) IRE rugby union Brian Rigney (Shannon)Back row IRE rugby union Victor Costello (St Mary's College) IRE rugby union Eric Miller (Leicester) NZL Dean Oswald (Blackrock) IRE rugby union Chris Pim (Old Wesley) (c) IRE rugby union Stephen Rooney (Lansdowne) Scrum-halves IRE rugby union Niall Hogan (Terenure) IRE rugby union Alain Rolland (Blackrock College) Fly-halves IRE rugby union Alan McGowan (Blackrock College)Centres IRE rugby union Vince Cunningham (St Mary's College) IRE rugby union Kurt McQuilkin (Bective Rangers) Wings IRE rugby union Paddy Gavin (Old Belvedere) IRE rugby union Niall Woods (Blackrock College) Fullbacks IRE rugby union Ciaran Clarke (Terenure) IRE rugby union Ray Hennessy (Lansdowne) IRE rugby union Conor O'Shea (London Irish) (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 1995–96 Heineken Cup Pool 3 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPtsStatus IRE rugby union Leinster2200431474344Advanced to the semi-finals WAL Pontypridd21012205335182Eliminated ITA Milan200223−13355−220 1 November 1995 14:30 Milan ITA 21–24 Report"Leinster get out of the Woods", Irish Independent, 2 November 1995 IRE rugby union Leinster CrottiPlatania Bonomi Dominguez O'SheaWoods McGowan McGowan (4) Stadio Comunale Giuriati 1,200 Franck Maciello Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Brian Rigney, 5. Malcolm O'Kelly, 6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Victor Costello, 8. Dean Oswald, 9. Alain Rolland, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Niall Woods, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Vince Cunningham, 14. Paddy Gavin, 15. Conor O'Shea. W 6 December 1995 19:00 Leinster IRE rugby union 23–22 WAL Pontypridd Report"McGowan is on target as Leinster snatch dramatic win", Irish Examiner, 7 December 1995 Conor O'SheaAlan McGowan Alan McGowan (2) Alan McGowan Crispin Cormack Lee Jarvis Lee Jarvis Lansdowne Road 4,000 Daniel Gillet W Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Brian Rigney, 5. Neil Francis, 6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Victor Costello, 8. Stephen Rooney, 9. Alain Rolland, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Niall Woods, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Vince Cunningham, 14. Paddy Gavin, 15. Conor O'Shea. Replacements: Angus McKeen (for Wallace), Eric Miller (for Costello), Niall Hogan. Semi-finals 30 December 1995 13:30 Leinster IRE rugby union 14–23 WAL Cardiff Pim m McGowan (3) Hall cTaylor 50' c Davies (2) Davies DaviesMoore Lansdowne Road, Dublin 7,350 Brian Campsall (England) L Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Neil Francis, 6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Victor Costello, 8. Stephen Rooney, 9. Alain Rolland, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Conor O'Shea, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Vince Cunningham, 14. Paddy Gavin, 15. Ciaran Clarke. Replacements: Ray Hennessy (for Clarke) IRFU Interprovincial Championship IRFU Interprovincial Championship Team P W D LFAPts Statusleft Leinster 4 4 0 0 133 53 16 Champions; qualified for next season's Heineken Cupleft Ulster 4 3 0 1 73 53 12 Qualified for next season's Heineken Cupleft Munster 4 2 0 2 91 58 8 Qualified for next season's Heineken Cupleft Exiles 4 1 0 3 71 113 4 left Connacht 4 0 0 4 51 142 0 2 December 1995 Irish Exiles IRE rugby union 26–42 ReportPhil Minishull, "Leinster lord it", Sunday Life, 3 December 1995 Leinster Leinster HendersonSaverimuttoCorcoranMalone Corcoran (3) CostelloGavinMcQuilkin (3)Cunningham McGowan (3) McGowanO'Shea Heywood Road J. Cole W Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Brian Rigney, 5. Neil Francis, 6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Victor Costello, 8. Stephen Rooney, 9. Alain Rolland, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Niall Woods, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Vince Cunningham, 14. Paddy Gavin, 15. Conor O'Shea. Replacements: Ciaran Clarke (for McQuilkin), Niall Hogan (for Rolland). 2 December 1995 Leinster Leinster 41–9 ReportKieran Rooney, "Uneven Leinster on a roll after eighth win", Sunday Independent, 10 October 1995 Connacht Connacht O'Shea (2)HoganGavinMcGowan McGowan (2) McGowan (3)O'Shea Elwood (3) Donnybrook Stadium B. Smith Leinster: 1. Paul Flavin, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Malcolm O'Kelly, 5. Neil Francis, 6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Victor Costello, 8. Stephen Rooney, 9. Niall Hogan, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Niall Woods, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Vince Cunningham, 14. Paddy Gavin, 15. Conor O'Shea. W 16 December 1995 Munster Munster 15–19 Reporthttps://munsterrugby.ie/match-stats/?FixGuid=95ML6696 Munster 15-19 Leinster Munster Rugby 7 June 2019David Walsh, "Delight for Leinster", Sunday Independent, 17 December 1995 Leinster Leinster R. Wallace (2) Murray Murray Rolland McGowan McGowan (4) Thomond Park A. Watson Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Neil Francis, 6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Victor Costello, 8. Stephen Rooney, 9. Alain Rolland, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Niall Woods, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Vince Cunningham, 14. Paddy Gavin, 15. Conor O'Shea. W 23 December 1995 Leinster Leinster 31–3 ReportDavid Walsh, "Christmas cheer for the boys in blue", Sunday Independent, 24 December 1995 Ulster Ulster WallaceJamesonGavin McGowan (2) McGowan (4) McCall Donnybrook C. White Leinster: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Neil Francis, 6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Victor Costello, 8. Stephen Rooney, 9. Alain Rolland, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Niall Woods, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Vince Cunningham, 14. Paddy Gavin, 15. Conor O'Shea. Replacement: Ciaran Clarke (for Woods). W Representative 26 November 1995 Leinster Leinster 15-6 Report"Leinster pack impress", Irish Examiner, 27 November 1995 RSA Transvaal McGowan (5) Gillingham (2) Donnybrook Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Neil Francis, 6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Victor Costello, 8. Stephen Rooney, 9. Alain Rolland, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Niall Woods, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Vince Cunningham, 14. Paddy Gavin, 15. Ciaran Clarke. W References 1995-96 Category:1995–96 in Irish rugby union Category:1995–96 Heineken Cup