1995–96 Leinster Rugby season

1995–96 Leinster Rugby season
Ground(s)Donnybrook, Dublin
Coach(es)Jim Glennon
Ciaran Callan
Paul Dean
CaptainChris Pim
Top scorerAlan McGowan (92)
Most triesConor O'Shea (4)
League(s)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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] In September, the IRFU confirmed that, for this season, only senior international players would be paid,[4] with a one-year moratorium on payment for club and provincial players.[5] Up to 35 Ireland players would be offered £26,000 contracts for the 1996 Five Nations Championship.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] English and Scottish teams did not take part in the inaugural competition.[10] The IRFU confirmed that Ireland would enter provincial teams, as their clubs were unlikely to be strong enough for the competition.[11] 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.[12]

Players selected

Leinster Rugby squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

  • Victor Costello (St Mary's College)
  • Eric Miller (Leicester)
  • Dean Oswald (Blackrock)
  • Chris Pim (Old Wesley) (c)
  • Stephen Rooney (Lansdowne)

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

  • Paddy Gavin (Old Belvedere)
  • Niall Woods (Blackrock College)

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.

Heineken Cup

Main article: 1995–96 Heineken Cup

Pool 3

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts Status
Leinster 2 2 0 0 4 3 1 47 43 4 4 Advanced to the semi-finals
Pontypridd 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 53 35 18 2 Eliminated
Milan 2 0 0 2 2 3 −1 33 55 −22 0
1 November 1995 Milan 21–24 Leinster Stadio Comunale Giuriati  
14:30 Try: Crotti
Platania
Con: Bonomi
Pen: Dominguez
 Report[13] Try: O'Shea
Woods
Con: McGowan
Pen: McGowan (4)
 Attendance: 1,200
Referee: 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.

6 December 1995 Leinster 23–22 Pontypridd Lansdowne Road  
19:00 Try: Conor O'Shea
Alan McGowan
Con: Alan McGowan (2)
Pen: Alan McGowan
 Report[14] Try: Crispin Cormack
Con: Lee Jarvis
Pen: Lee Jarvis
 Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Daniel Gillet
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 Leinster 14–23 Cardiff Lansdowne Road, Dublin  
13:30 Try: Pim m
Pen: McGowan (3)
 Try: Hall c
Taylor 50' c
Con: Davies (2)
Pen: Davies
Drop: Davies
Moore
 Attendance: 7,350
Referee: Brian Campsall (England)
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

Main article: IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D L F A Pts Status
4 4 0 0 133 53 16 Champions; qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
4 3 0 1 73 53 12 Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
4 2 0 2 91 58 8 Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
4 1 0 3 71 113 4
4 0 0 4 51 142 0
2 December 1995 Irish Exiles 26–42 Leinster Heywood Road  
Try: Henderson
Saverimutto
Corcoran
Malone
Con: Corcoran (3)
 Report[15] Try: Costello
Gavin
McQuilkin (3)
Cunningham
Con: McGowan (3)
Pen: McGowan
O'Shea
 Referee: J. Cole
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 41–9 Connacht Donnybrook Stadium  
Try: O'Shea (2)
Hogan
Gavin
McGowan
Con: McGowan (2)
Pen: McGowan (3)
O'Shea
 Report[16] Pen: Elwood (3)
 Referee: 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.

16 December 1995 Munster 15–19 Leinster Thomond Park  
Try: R. Wallace (2)
Con: Murray
Pen: Murray
 Report[17][18] Try: Rolland
Con: McGowan
Pen: McGowan (4)
 Referee: 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.

23 December 1995 Leinster 31–3 Ulster Donnybrook  
Try: Wallace
Jameson
Gavin
Con: McGowan (2)
Pen: McGowan (4)
 Report[19] Pen: McCall
 Referee: 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).

Representative

26 November 1995 Leinster 15-6 Transvaal Donnybrook  
Pen: McGowan (5)
 Report[20] Pen: Gillingham (2)
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.

References

  1. ^ Hugh Farrelly, The Coaching Revolution", Irish Independent, 20 May 2011
  2. ^ Peter O'Reilly, "Ulster coach warns on power balance", The Sunday Tribune, 22 September 1996
  3. ^ Jim Stokes, "IRFU tackle 'pro' issue", Belfast Telegraph, 28 August 1995
  4. ^ Jim Stokes, "International players only to 'cash in'", Belfast Telegraph, 12 September 1995
  5. ^ Jimmy Davidson, "Market forces takes strangle hold on rugby", Belfast Telegraph, 4 November 1995
  6. ^ Jim Stokes, "Irish international players to pocket £26,000", Belfast Telegraph, 23 October 1995
  7. ^ Tyrone Howe, "Local game needs a professional outlook", Belfast Telegraph, 13 January 1996
  8. ^ "European Rugby Cup : History". ERC. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2007.
  9. ^ "European Rugby Cup : Heineken Cup History 1995/96". ERC. Archived from the original on 15 March 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2007.
  10. ^ Rees, Paul (30 March 2006). "Big boys plan for more lucrative Heineken Cup". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 21 March 2007.
  11. ^ "Ireland confirm Euro entry", Belfast Telegraph, 22 August 1995
  12. ^ Jim Stokes, "Ulster to face Cardiff?", Belfast Telegraph, 29 August 1995
  13. ^ "Leinster get out of the Woods", Irish Independent, 2 November 1995
  14. ^ "McGowan is on target as Leinster snatch dramatic win", Irish Examiner, 7 December 1995
  15. ^ Phil Minishull, "Leinster lord it", Sunday Life, 3 December 1995
  16. ^ Kieran Rooney, "Uneven Leinster on a roll after eighth win", Sunday Independent, 10 October 1995
  17. ^ "Munster 15-19 Leinster". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  18. ^ David Walsh, "Delight for Leinster", Sunday Independent, 17 December 1995
  19. ^ David Walsh, "Christmas cheer for the boys in blue", Sunday Independent, 24 December 1995
  20. ^ "Leinster pack impress", Irish Examiner, 27 November 1995
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