1995–96 Munster Rugby season

1995–96 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s)Thomond Park (Capacity: 13,200)
Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,300)
CoachJerry Holland[1]
CaptainPat Murray
← 1994–95 1996–97 →

The 1995–96 season was Munster Rugby's first season under professionalism. Jerry Holland was head coach. They finished third in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, winning two and losing two, and second in their pool in the inaugural Heineken Cup, winning one and losing one.

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] 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]

1995–96 squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Paul Cunningham Hooker Ireland
Terry Kingston Hooker Ireland
Conor Twomey Hooker Ireland
Des Clohessy Prop Ireland
Peter Clohessy Prop Ireland
John Fitzgerald Prop Ireland
Michael Fitzgerald Prop Ireland
Paul McCarthy Prop Ireland
Paul Spain Prop Ireland
Gabriel Fulcher Lock Ireland
Mick Galwey Lock Ireland
Paul O'Connor Lock Ireland
David Corkery Back row Ireland
Anthony Foley Back row Ireland
Eddie Halvey Back row Ireland
Ultan O'Callaghan Back row Ireland
Brian Toland Back row Ireland
Liam Toland Back row Ireland
Player Position Union
Fergus Aherne Scrum-half Ireland
Michael Bradley Scrum-half Ireland
Stephen McIvor Scrum-half Ireland
David O'Mahony Scrum-half Ireland
Paul Burke Fly-half Ireland
Stephen Tuohy Fly-half Ireland
Sean McCahill Centre Ireland
Dan Larkin Centre Ireland
Brian Walsh Centre Ireland
John Lacey Wing Ireland
Kenny Smith Wing Ireland
Richard Wallace Wing Ireland
Dominic Crotty Fullback Ireland
Pat Murray (c) Fullback Ireland

1995–96 Heineken Cup

Main article: 1995–96 Heineken Cup

Pool 4

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts Status
Swansea 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 35 27 8 2 Advanced to the semi-finals
Munster 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 29 32 −3 2 Eliminated
Castres 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 29 34 −5 2
1 November 1995 Munster 17–13 Swansea Thomond Park  
15:00 Try: Wallace, Murray
Con: Smith (2)
Pen: Smith
 Report[13] Try: Harris
Con: Smith
Pen: Smith (2)
 Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Ed Morrison
Munster lineup:

1. John Fitzgerald, 2. Terry Kingston, 3. Peter Clohessy,
4. Mick Galwey, 5. Gabriel Fulcher,
6. Eddie Halvey, 7. Anthony Foley, 8. David Corkery,
9. David O'Mahony, 10. Paul Burke,
11. Kenny Smith, 12. Dan Larkin, 13. Sean McCahill, 14. Richard Wallace,
15. Pat Murray.
Replacements: Michael Fitzgerald (for J. Fitzgerald), Brian Toland (for Halvey).

8 November 1995 Castres 19–12 Munster Stade Antoine Beguere  
20:00 Try: Combes
Con: Labit
Pen: Labit (4)
 Report[14] Pen: Smith (4)
 Attendance: 6,500
Munster lineup:

1. John Fitzgerald, 2. Terry Kingston, 3. Peter Clohessy,
4. Paul O'Connor, 5. Gabriel Fulcher,
6. Mick Galwey, 7. Anthony Foley, 8. David Corkery,
9. David O'Mahony, 10. Paul Burke,
11. Kenny Smith, 12. Dan Larkin, 13. Sean McCahill, 14. Richard Wallace,
15. Pat Murray.
Replacements: Brian Walsh (for Burke 57'), Brian Toland (for Corkery 22', for Galwey 52')

1995–96 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
25 November 1995 Ulster 14–10 Munster Ravenhill  
Try: Mackey
Pen: McCall (3)
 Report[15][16] Try: Walsh
Con: Smith
Pen: Smith
 Referee: A. Lewis
Munster:

1. John Fitzgerald, 2. Paul Cunningham, 3. Peter Clohessy,
4. Gabriel Fulcher, 5. Paul O'Connor,
6. Mick Galwey, 7. Anthony Foley, 8. David Corkery,
9. David O'Mahony, 10. Paul Burke,
11. Kenny Smith, 12. Sean McCahill, 13. Brian Walsh, 14. Richard Wallace,
15. Pat Murray (c).

2 December 1995 Munster 20–14 Irish Exiles Musgrave Park, Cork  
Try: L. Toland (2)
Con: Burke (2)
Pen: Burke
Drop: Tuohy
 Report[17] Try: Henderson
Malone
Con: Corcoran (2)
 Referee: B. Stirling
Munster:

1. Paul Spain, 2. Paul Cunningham, 3. Peter Clohessy,
4. Gabriel Fulcher, 5. Mick Galwey,
6. David Corkery, 7. Brian Toland, 8. Liam Toland,
9. Stephen McIvor, 10. Paul Burke,
11. John Lacey, 12. Pat Murray (c), 13. Brian Walsh, 14. Richard Wallace,
15. Sean McCahill.
Replacements: Dominic Crotty (for Lacey, 77), Stephen Tuohy (for Burke, 80).

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

1. Paul McCarthy, 2. Paul Cunningham, 3. Peter Clohessy,
4. Gabriel Fulcher, 5. Mick Galwey,
6. David Corkery, 7. Brian Toland, 8. Liam Toland,
9. Stephen McIvor, 10. Paul Burke,
11. Dominic Crotty, 12. Sean McCahill, 13. Brian Walsh, 14. Richard Wallace,
15. Pat Murray (c).

23 December 1995 Connacht 11–46 Munster Galway Sportsgrounds  
Try: Heaslip
Pen: Elwood (2)
 Report[20][21] Try: McIvor
P. Clohessy
Crotty
D. Clohessy
Walsh
L. Toland
Con: Smith (5)
Pen: Smith (2)
 Referee: A. Lewis
Munster:

1. Paul Spain, 2. Paul Cunningham, 3. Peter Clohessy,
4. Gabriel Fulcher, 5. Mick Galwey,
6. Des Clohessy, 7. Brian Toland, 8. Liam Toland,
9. Stephen McIvor, 10. Paul Burke,
11. Kenny Smith, 12. Sean McCahill, 13. Brian Walsh, 14. Richard Wallace,
15. Dominic Crotty.
Replacements: Fergus Aherne (for McIvor, 61), Conor Twomey (for Cunningham, 62), Stephen Tuohy (for Burke, 68).

References

  1. ^ "Balls Remembers: A Profile Of The First Munster Heineken Cup Team In 1995". Balls.ie. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  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. ^ John O'Sullivan, "Munster on march in Europe", Irish Independent, 2 November 1995
  14. ^ Barry Coughlan, "Brave Munster denied", Irish Examiner, 9 November 1995
  15. ^ David Walsh, "Munster Capitulation", Sunday Independent, 26 November 1995
  16. ^ "Ulster 14–10 Munster". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  17. ^ John O'Sullivan, "Toland a class act", Sunday Independent, 10 October 1995
  18. ^ "Munster 15-19 Leinster". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  19. ^ David Walsh, "Delight for Leinster", Sunday Independent, 17 December 1995
  20. ^ "Connacht 11-46 Munster". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  21. ^ David Walsh, "Dethroned Munster run Connacht ragged", Sunday Independent, 24 December 1995
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