2003–04 Leinster Rugby season

2003–04 Leinster Rugby season Donnybrook, Dublin Gary Ella Celtic League (8th)Heineken Cup (2nd in pool) 2002–03 2004–05 2003-04 was Leinster ninth season under professionalism, and their only season under head coach Gary Ella, former head coach of the New South Wales Waratahs, appointed to replace Matt Williams, who had been appointed head coach of Scotland. Willie Anderson remained as assistant coach.Gavin Mairs, "Ella puts best foot forward for Leinster", Belfast Telegraph, 18 July 2003 Gordon D'Arcy won the 2004 IRUPA players' player of the year and people's player of the year awards. Girvan Dempsey won the try of the year award.Kieran Rooney, "Players' Player is Malcolm O'Kelly", Irish Independent, 9 May 2003 Player transfers Players in IRE rugby union Brian Blaney IRE rugby union Enda Bohan IRE rugby union Sean Brophy IRE rugby union Gary Brown IRE rugby union Brendan Burke IRE rugby union Rob Connolly ARG Felipe Contepomi from ENG Bristolhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/irish/3039375.stm Leinster sign Contepomi 19 May 2003 BBC Sport 27 May 2009 IRE rugby union Simon Crawford IRE rugby union James Downey IRE rugby union John Hearty ENG Jason Moran IRE rugby union James Norton"Shogun becomes a Lion", Irish Rugby, 19 May 2003 IRE rugby union Niall O’Brien IRE rugby union Daragh O’Shea IRE rugby union Ciarán Potts IRE rugby union Niall Ronan IRE rugby union Shane Whelan Players out IRE rugby union Andy Dunne to ENG Harlequins"Harlequins swoop for four Irish players", Irish Times, 14 May 2003 IRE rugby union Aidan Kearney IRE rugby union Simon Keogh to ENG Harlequins AUS Adam Magro (released) IRE rugby union Peter McKenna (retired) IRE rugby union Peter Smyth IRE rugby union Paul Wallace (retired) NZL Nathan Spooner to RSA Natal SharksSpooner For Natal Sharks https://www.irishrugby.ie/2003/09/02/spooner-for-natal-sharks/ Irish Rugby 11 August 2025 IRE rugby union Liam Toland NZL Ben Willis to ENG Harlequins Squad Leinster Rugby squadLeinster squad, 2003-04, Guinness Pro12, retrieved 29 August 2026Props IRE rugby union Enda Bohan IRE rugby union Sean Brophy IRE rugby union Emmet Byrne IRE rugby union Reggie Corrigan IRE rugby union Peter Coyle IRE rugby union John Lyne ENG Jason Moran IRE rugby union Niall Treston Hookers IRE rugby union Brian Blaney IRE rugby union David Blaney IRE rugby union Shane Byrne IRE rugby union Gavin Hickie Locks IRE rugby union Niall Breslin IRE rugby union Leo Cullen NZL Ben Gissing IRE rugby union Malcolm O'KellyBack row IRE rugby union Rob Connolly IRE rugby union Victor Costello IRE rugby union Simon Crawford 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 Ciarán Potts IRE rugby union Niall Ronan Scrum-halves IRE rugby union Brian O'Meara IRE rugby union Brian O'Riordan IRE rugby union Shane Whelan Fly-halves ARG Felipe Contepomi ENG Matt Leek AUS Christian WarnerCentres IRE rugby union Brendan Burke IRE rugby union James Downey IRE rugby union John Hearty IRE rugby union Shane Horgan IRE rugby union Kieran Lewis IRE rugby union Brian O'Driscoll IRE rugby union David Quinlan Wings IRE rugby union Gary Brown IRE rugby union Gordon D'Arcy IRE rugby union Denis Hickie (c) IRE rugby union John McWeeney IRE rugby union James Norton IRE rugby union Niall O’Brien Fullbacks IRE rugby union Girvan Dempsey IRE rugby union Daragh O’Shea (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 2003-04 Celtic League Table PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATBPLBPPts1WAL Llanelli Scarlets221615597385+212573973762IRE rugby union Ulster221507617363+254672984723WAL Newport Gwent Dragons221606590449+141594171724WAL Celtic Warriors221408560451+109483754655WAL Neath–Swansea Ospreys2211110582512+70556054556WAL Cardiff Blues2211011570467+103735473547IRE rugby union Munster2210012422456−34454965518IRE rugby union Leinster229112523580−57516545479IRE rugby union Connacht228212479550−715059534410SCO Edinburgh229013454622−1685269624411SCO Glasgow226115442614−1725261333212SCO Borders224018363750−38742881522Under 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)Source: RaboDirect PRO12 https://web.archive.org/web/20131122230126/http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/table.php?includeref=11189&season=2003-2004 22 November 2013 Fixtures 5 September 2003 19:35 Leinster Ireland rugby union 8–15 Report Ireland rugby union Munster Donnybrook 6,000 L 13 September 2003 14:30 Celtic Warriors WAL 29–22 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Sardis Road 4,500 L 26 September 2003 19:30 Leinster Ireland rugby union 30–33 Report SCO Edinburgh Donnybrook 2,600 L 10 October 2003 19:05 Cardiff Blues WAL 22–3 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Cardiff Arms Park 3,500 L 17 October 2003 19:35 Leinster Ireland rugby union 21–6 Report Ireland rugby union Connacht Donnybrook 2,100 W 24 October 2003 19:30 Borders SCO 21–26 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Netherdale 2,000 W 31 October 2003 19:30 Glasgow SCO 10–31 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Hughenden 2,734 W 7 November 2003 19:35 Leinster Ireland rugby union 31–20 Report WAL Llanelli Scarlets Donnybrook 2,300 W 29 November 2003 17:30 Neath–Swansea Ospreys WAL 25–36 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster The Gnoll 4,046 W 2 January 2004 19:35 Leinster Ireland rugby union 32–30 Report Ireland rugby union Ulster ContepomiCostello O'Meara (2) O'Meara (6) HoweSteinmetzHumphreys Humphreys (3) Humphreys (3) Donnybrook 7,000 W 6 February 2004 19:05 Newport Gwent Dragons WAL 35–14 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Rodney Parade 3,476 L 13 February 2004 19:35 Munster Ireland rugby union 24–13 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Musgrave Park 5,400 L 20 February 2004 19:35 Leinster Ireland rugby union 16–37 Report WAL Celtic Warriors Donnybrook 3,800 L 27 February 2004 19:30 Edinburgh SCO 40–34 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Murrayfield 2,120 L 5 March 2004 19:30 Leinster Ireland rugby union 18–22 Report WAL Cardiff Blues Donnybrook 2,150 L 13 March 2004 14:30 Connacht Ireland rugby union 35–24 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Sportsground 3,850 L 26 March 2004 19:30 Leinster Ireland rugby union 35–12 Report SCO Borders Donnybrook 2,384 W 2 April 2004 19:30 Leinster Ireland rugby union 31–30 Report SCO Glasgow Donnybrook 3,655 W 16 April 2004 19:30 Llanelli Scarlets WAL 51–20 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Stradey Park 5,679 L 30 April 2004 19:30 Leinster Ireland rugby union 16–16 Report WAL Neath–Swansea Ospreys Donnybrook 1,068 D 7 May 2004 19:30 Ulster Ireland rugby union 28–6 Report Ireland rugby union Leinster Howe (2)Humphreys Humphreys (2) Humphreys (3) O'Meara (2) Ravenhill 12,000 L 14 May 2004 19:35 Leinster Ireland rugby union 56–39 Report WAL Newport Gwent Dragons Lansdowne Road 2,520 W Heineken Cup 2003–04 Heineken Cup Pool 3 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts FRA Biarritz Olympique64021812613997423120 Ireland rugby union Leinster640213112142113291118 WAL Cardiff Blues620413130123132−90311 ENG Sale Sharks6204614−875137−62019 6 December 200315:00 Leinster IRE rugby union 32–6 FRA Biarritz Lansdowne Road 7,200 W 12 December 200319:45 Cardiff Blues WAL 19–24 IRE rugby union Leinster Cardiff Arms Park 5,000 W 9 January 200419:45 Leinster IRE rugby union 22–23 ENG Sale Sharks Lansdowne Road 14,200 L 18 January 200415:00 Sale Sharks ENG 16–23 IRE rugby union Leinster Edgeley Park 10,417 W 23 January 200419:45 Leinster IRE rugby union 20–17 WAL Cardiff Blues Lansdowne Road 23,463 W 31 January 200416:00 Biarritz FRA 32–21 IRE rugby union Leinster Parc des Sports Aquil 8,500 L References 2003-04 Category:2003–04 in Irish rugby union Category:2003–04 Heineken Cup