1997–98 Leinster Rugby season

1997–98 Leinster Rugby season Donnybrook, Dublin Mike Ruddock Alan McGowan (90) John McWeeney (4) Heineken CupIRFU Interprovincial Championship 1996–97 1998–99 The 1997-98 season was Leinster's third season under professionalism. Mike Ruddock was director of rugby. The previous coaching team of team manager Jim Glennon, forwards coach Ciaran Callan and backs coach Paul Dean, remained in place under him."Full steam ahead for Ruddock", Irish Independent, 14 April 1997 They competed in the Heineken Cup, finishing third in their pool, and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, finishing as champions. 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 Players selected Leinster Rugby squadProps IRE rugby union Peter Bruce (Terenure) IRE rugby union Emmet Byrne (St Mary's) IRE rugby union Reggie Corrigan (Greystones) IRE rugby union Paul Flavin (Blackrock) IRE rugby union Henry Hurley (Old Wesley) IRE rugby union Angus McKeen (Landsowne) Hookers IRE rugby union James Blaney (Terenure) IRE rugby union Shane Byrne (Blackrock) Locks IRE rugby union Aaron Freeman (Lansdowne) IRE rugby union Steve Jameson (St Mary's) IRE rugby union Hubi Kos (Balckrock)Back row IRE rugby union Trevor Brennan (St Mary's) IRE rugby union Victor Costello (St Mary's) IRE rugby union Tony Goldfinch (Blackrock) IRE rugby union Colin McEntee (Lansdowne) IRE rugby union Declan O'Brien (DLSP) IRE rugby union David O'Sullivan (Skerries) IRE rugby union Stephen Rooney (Lansdowne) Scrum-halves IRE rugby union David O'Mahony (Lansdowne) IRE rugby union Alain Rolland (Old Wesley) Fly-halves IRE rugby union Richard Governey (Lansdowne) IRE rugby union Alan McGowan (Blackrock)Centres IRE rugby union Kurt McQuilkin (Lansdowne) IRE rugby union Martin Ridge (Old Belvedere) Wings IRE rugby union Denis Hickie (St Mary's) IRE rugby union John McWeeney (St Mary's) IRE rugby union Darragh O'Mahony (Moseley) Fullbacks IRE rugby union Kieran Clarke (Terenudre) IRE rugby union Kevin Nowlan (St Mary's) (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. Squad IRFU Interprovincial Championship IRFU Interprovincial Championship Team P W D LFA BPPts Statusleft Leinster 3 2 0 1 61 46 - 4 Champions; qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cupleft Munster Munster 3 2 0 1 56 43 - 4 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cupleft Ulster Ulster 3 1 0 2 59 65 - 2 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cupleft Connacht Connacht 3 1 0 2 42 64 - 2 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 David McHugh Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen, 4. Declan O'Brien, 5. Aaron Freeman, 6. Trevor Brennan, 7. Victor Costello, 8. Stephen Rooney, 9. Alain Rolland, 10. Richard McGoverney, 11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie, 15. Ciran Clarke. Replacements: Reggie Corrigan (for McKeen 45'), Steve Jameson for O'Brien 72'), C. McEntee (for Brennan 72'). W 23 August 1997 Munster Munster 15–12 Reporthttps://munsterrugby.ie/match-stats/?FixGuid=97ML3753 Munster 15-12 Leinster Munster Rugby 7 June 2019 Leinster Leinster O'GaraMahoney (3) O'Gara McGowan (4) Mardyke Leinster lineup: 1. Henry Hurley, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman, 6. Colin McEntee, 7. Trevor Brennan, 8. Victor Costello, 9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie, 15. Ciran Clarke. Replacements: Declan O'Brien (for Freeman 66') L 30 August 1997 Leinster Leinster 23-6 ReportJohn O'Sullivan, "Leinster snatch it", Sunday Independent, 31 August 1997 Connacht Connacht Ridge McGowan McGowan (3) Elwood (2) Donnybrook Stadium D. McHugh Leinster lineup: 1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman, 6. Trevor Brennan, 7. Tony Goldfinch, 8. Victor Costello, 9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin (c), 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie, 15. Kevin Nowlan. Replacements: Declan O'Brien (for Jameson 70') W Heineken Cup 1997–98 Heineken Cup Pool 1 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts FRA Toulouse65012512132001217910 ENG Leicester640216142163117468 Ireland rugby union Leinster62041519−4137167−304 ITA Milan61051526−11111206−952 6 September 199715:00 Leinster Ireland rugby union 25–34 ReportBrendan Fanning, "Leinster pay price for soft approach", Sunday Independent, 7 September 1997 FRA Toulouse McGowanO'BrienPenalty try McGowan (2) McGowan (2) MarfaingBegueGarbajosaBondouy Ougier (4) Ougier (2) Donnybrook 6,300 Leinster lineup: 1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman, 6. Trevor Brennan, 7. Tony Goldfinch, 8. Victor Costello, 9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie, 15. Kevin Nowlan. Replacements: Peter Brice, David O'Sullivan, Declan O'Brien. L 12 September 199717:30 Leinster Ireland rugby union 16–9 ReportKieran Rooney, "Leinster stun Tigers", Irish Independent, 13 September 1997 ENG Leicester Tigers Nowlan McGowan McGowan (3) Stransky (3) Donnybrook 7,000 W Leinster lineup: 1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Peter Bruce, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman, 6. Trevor Brennan, 7. David O'Sullivan, 8. Victor Costello, 9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie, 15. Kevin Nowlan. Replacements: Paul Flavin. 20 September 199716:00 Milan ITA 33–32 Report"Leinster pipped at the death", Irish Examiner, 22 September 1997 Ireland rugby union Leinster ProperziTurnerVaccariGómezCuttitta Platania Platania (2) McWeeney (2)D. O'MahonyMcGowan McGowan (3) McGowan (2) Stadio Comunale Giuriati 1,100 L Leinster lineup: 1. Paul Flavin, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Reggie Corrigan, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman, 6. Trevor Brennan, 7. David O'Sullivan, 8. Victor Costello, 9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie, 15. Kevin Nowlan. Replacements: Emmet Byrne. 27 September 199715:00 Leicester Tigers ENG 47–22 ReportJohn O'Sullivan, "Leicester take their revenge as Leinster disappoint", Sunday Independent, 28 September 1997 Ireland rugby union Leinster BarlowHealeyMaloneRowntreeGreenwood Serevi (2) Stransky (3)Serevi (2) Stransky McWeeneyHickie (2) McGowan (2) McGowan Welford Road 10,392 L Leinster lineup: 1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman, 6. Trevor Brennan, 7. David O'Sullivan, 8. Victor Costello, 9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie, 15. Kevin Nowlan. Replacements: Ciaran Clarke, James Blaney, Declan O'Brien. 4 October 199715:00 Leinster Ireland rugby union 23–6 Report"Poor Leinster avenge Cup loss in Italy", Irish Examiner, 6 October 1997 ITA Milan Ridge (2)O'Mahony McGowan McGowan (2) Filizzola (2) Donnybrook 5,500 W Leinster lineup: 1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Emmet Byrne, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Hubi Kos, 6. Declan O'Brien, 7. Stephen Rooney, 8. Victor Costello, 9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie, 15. Kevin Nowlan. Replacements: Ciaran Clarke, James Blaney. 11 October 199715:20 Toulouse FRA 38–19 Report"Lion-hearted Leinster refuse to cave in", Sunday Independent, 12 October 1997 Ireland rugby union Leinster Garbajosa (2)Bondouy (2)Martin Delaigue (2) OugierDelaigue McWeeney McGowan McGowan (4) Les Sept Deniers 7,000 L Leinster lineup: 1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen, 4. Steve Jameson, 5. Hubi Kos, 6. Trevor Brennan, 7. Stephen Rooney, 8. Victor Costello, 9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan, 11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie, 15. Kevin Nowlan. Replacements: Richard Governey, Emmet Byrne. References 1997-98 Category:1997–98 in Irish rugby union Category:1997–98 Heineken Cup