2002–03 Leinster Rugby season

2002–03 Leinster Rugby season Donnybrook, Dublin Matt Williams Celtic League (5th in pool)Heineken Cup (semi-final) 2001–02 2003–04 2002-03 was Leinster's eighth season under professionalism, and their third under head coach Matt Williams. In 2002–03, they became only the third team in the history of the European Cup to win all their games in pool play. They also went one step further in the playoffs than the previous season by reaching the semi-finals (for the first time since 1995–96), but lost at home against French side Perpignan, which was accompanied by an unsuccessful season in the Celtic League. Malcolm O'Kelly was given the 2003 IRUPA players' player of the year award. Gordon D'Arcy won the try of the season award.Kieran Rooney, "Players' Player is Malcolm O'Kelly", Irish Independent, 9 May 2003 At the end of the season, Matt Williams was appointed as the head coach of Scotland.Paul Gregor Top 10 of Everything Rugby 2012 Exisle Publishing Limited 978-1-927187-88-3 https://books.google.com/books?id=YYvfUdBEQlUC&q=matt+williams+first+foreign+coach&pg=PA185 Gary Ella replaced him as Leinster head coach. Player transfers Players in IRE rugby union Des Dillon from IRE rugby union Connacht"Dillon signs for Leinster", Irish Rugby, 15 May 2002 NZL Ben Gissing from ITA Rugby Calvisano IRE rugby union Aidan Kearney from IRE rugby union Ulster"Brennan joins Toulouse", BBC Sport, 31 May 2002 ENG Matthew Leek from ENG Wasps"Matt lands Leek", Evening Herald, 26 July 2002 IRE rugby union Kieran Lewis IRE rugby union John Lyne IRE rugby union Brian O'Riordan AUS Christian Warner from FRA Pau"Warner Leinster's Newest Aussie", 20 May 2002 Players out ENG Steve Barretto IRE rugby union James Blaney to IRE rugby union Munster IRE rugby union Trevor Brennan to FRA Toulouse IRE rugby union Bob Casey to ENG London Irish"Casey Off To London Town", Irish Rugby, 30 April 2002 IRE rugby union Emmett Farrell Squad Leinster Rugby squadLeinster squad, 2002-03, Guinness Pro12, retrieved 29 August 2026Props IRE rugby union Emmet Byrne IRE rugby union Reggie Corrigan IRE rugby union Peter Coyle IRE rugby union John Lyne IRE rugby union Niall Treston IRE rugby union Paul Wallace Hookers IRE rugby union David Blaney IRE rugby union Shane Byrne IRE rugby union Gavin Hickie IRE rugby union Peter Smyth Locks IRE rugby union Niall Breslin IRE rugby union Leo Cullen NZL Ben Gissing IRE rugby union Aidan Kearney IRE rugby union Malcolm O'KellyBack row IRE rugby union Victor Costello IRE rugby union Des Dillon IRE rugby union Keith Gleeson IRE rugby union Shane Jennings IRE rugby union Aidan McCullen IRE rugby union Eric Miller IRE rugby union Liam Toland Scrum-halves IRE rugby union Brian O'Meara IRE rugby union Brian O'Riordan NZL Ben Willis Fly-halves IRE rugby union Andy Dunne ENG Matthew Leek NZL Nathan Spooner AUS Christian WarnerCentres IRE rugby union Shane Horgan IRE rugby union Kieran Lewis AUS Adam Magro IRE rugby union Brian O'Driscoll IRE rugby union David Quinlan Wings IRE rugby union Gordon D'Arcy IRE rugby union Denis Hickie (c) IRE rugby union Simon Keogh IRE rugby union John McWeeney Fullbacks IRE rugby union Girvan Dempsey IRE rugby union Peter McKenna (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. Squad Celtic League 2002–03 Celtic League Pool B Table TeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATry bonusLosing bonusPts1WAL Pontypridd7601182120+62151220262SCO Glasgow7502216166+50222021233WAL Cardiff7403178151+27171222204IRE rugby union Connacht7502126176−50111700205IRE rugby union Leinster7304191154+37221433186SCO Borders7205142169−27151113127WAL Bridgend7205127187−60112011108WAL Newport7106121160−39916048Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows: 4 points for a win 2 points for a draw 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus) 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)Green background (rows 1 to 4) qualify for the knock-out stage.Source: RaboDirect PRO12 Pool B Fixtures 30 August 2002 19:35 Leinster Ireland rugby union 31–18 Report WAL Pontypridd Donnybrook 4,500 W 6 September 2002 19:30 Glasgow SCO 25–21 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Hughenden 4,250 W 13 September 2002 19:35 Leinster Ireland rugby union 23–26 Report Ireland rugby union Connacht Donnybrook 6,000 L 21 September 2002 17:30 Cardiff WAL 30–17 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Cardiff Arms Park 6,500 L 27 September 2002 19:30 Borders SCO 23–18 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Netherdale 4,000 L 4 October 2002 19:35 Leinster Ireland rugby union 42–14 Report WAL Newport Donnybrook 6,000 W 26 October 2002 14:30 Bridgend WAL 18–39 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Brewery Field 1,000 W Heineken Cup 2002–03 Heineken Cup Pool 4 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts Ireland rugby union Leinster660022715188939512 ENG Bristol Shoguns63031517−214914456 FRA Montferrand62041587141120214 WAL Swansea6105828−20109230−1212 11 October 200219:15 Leinster IRE rugby union 29–23 ENG Bristol Shoguns Donnybrook 6,000 W 19 October 200219:30 Swansea WAL 10–51 IRE rugby union Leinster St. Helen's 3,500 W 7 December 200215:00 Montferrand FRA 20–23 IRE rugby union Leinster Stade Marcel-Michelin 10,000 W 13 December 200219:35 Leinster IRE rugby union 12–9 FRA Montferrand Donnybrook 7,500 W 10 January 200319:35 Leinster IRE rugby union 48–19 WAL Swansea Donnybrook 7,500 W 19 January 200313:45 Bristol Shoguns ENG 12–25 IRE rugby union Leinster Memorial Ground 7,013 W Quarter-final 12 April 200315:35 Leinster Ireland rugby union 18–13 FRA Biarritz Lansdowne Road 46,000 W Semi-final 27 April 200314:45 Leinster Ireland rugby union 14–21 FRA Perpignan Lansdowne Road 37,000 L References 2002-03 Category:2002–03 in Irish rugby union Category:2002–03 Heineken Cup