1996–97 Leinster Rugby season

1996–97 Leinster Rugby season
Ground(s)Donnybrook, Dublin
Coach(es)Jim Glennon
Ciaran Callan
Paul Dean
CaptainChris Pim
League(s)Heineken Cup (3rd in pool)
IRFU Interprovincial Championship (2nd of 4)
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

The 1996-97 season was Leinster's second 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] Chris Pim was captain. They finished third in their pool in the Heineken Cup, and second in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship.

At this stage the Irish provinces were still representative teams, not professional clubs. However, the provinces were now offering contracts and match fees for Heineken Cup and Interprovincial matches, although these contracts sometimes conflicted with players contracted to clubs in England.[2]

Players selected

Leinster Rugby squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

  • Victor Costello (London Irish)
  • Kelvin Leahy (Wanderers)
  • Dean Oswald (Blackrock)
  • Chris Pim (Old Wesley) (c)
  • Stephen Rooney (Landsowne)
  • Kevin Spicer (Oxford)

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

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: 1996–97 Heineken Cup
Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
Leicester 4 4 0 0 14 3 11 114 43 71 8
Llanelli 4 2 0 2 9 9 0 97 81 16 4
Leinster 4 2 0 2 9 12 −3 86 109 −23 4
Pau 4 1 0 3 19 10 9 137 103 34 2
Scottish Borders 4 1 0 3 7 24 −17 80 178 −98 2
12 October 1996
14:30 		Llanelli 34–17 Leinster Stradey Park  
Try: Wyatt
Moon
Boobyer
Con: Botica (2)
Pen: Botica (5)
 Report[3] Try: Gavin
McKenna
O'Mahony
Con: Governey
 Attendance: 2,800
Leinster lineup:

1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Paul Wallace,
4. Neil Francis, 5. Malcolm O'Kelly,
6. Chris Pim, 7. Stephen Rooney, 8. Victor Costello,
9. Alain Rolland, 10. Richard Governey,
11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Ray McIlreavy, 14. Paddy Gavin.
15. Peter McKenna.
Replacement: Niall Hogan.

16 October 1996
18:45 		Leinster 10–27 Leicester Tigers Lansdowne Road  
Try: Penalty try
Con: McGowan
Pen: McGowan
 Report[4] Try: Rowntree
Kardooni
Wells
Con: Liley (3)
Pen: Liley (2)
 Attendance: 3,500
Leinster lineup:

1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Paul Wallace,
4. Neil Francis, 5. Malcolm O'Kelly,
6. Chris Pim, 7. Victor Costello, 8. Stephen Rooney,
9. Alain Rolland, 10. Alan McGowan,
11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Martin Ridge, 13. Kurt McQuilkin, 14. Patrick Gavin.
15. Peter McKenna.
Replacement: Ciaran Clarke, Richard Governey.

26 October 1996
14:30 		Borders 25–34 Leinster The Greenyards  
Try: Aitken
Changleng
Parker
Con: Parker (2)
Pen: Parker (2)
 Report[5] Try: Oswald
Clarke
McGowan
Hickie
Con: McGowan
Pen: McGowan (4)
 Attendance: 3,500
Leinster lineup:

1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Angus McKeen,
4. Neil Francis, 5. Malcolm O'Kelly,
6. Chris Pim, 7. Dean Oswald, 8. Victor Costello,
9. Niall Hogan, 10. Alan McGowan,
11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie.
15. Ciaran Clarke.
Replacements: Girvan Dempsey, Stephen Rooney.

2 November 1996
14:30 		Leinster 25–23 Pau Donnybrook  
Try: McQuilkin
Con: McGowan
Pen: McGowan (6)
 Report[6] Try: Claverie
Paille
Aucagne
Con: Aucagne
 Attendance: 4,000
Leinster lineup:

1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Paul Wallace,
4. Malcolm O'Kelly, 5. Neil Francis,
6. Chris Pim, 7. Victor Costello, 8. Dean Oswald,
9. Niall Hogan, 10. Alan McGowan,
11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie.
15. Ciaran Clarke.
Replacements: James Blaney, Stephen Rooney.

IRFU Interprovincial Championship

Main article: IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D L F A BP Pts Status
3 3 0 0 117 92 - 6 Champions; qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup
3 1 0 2 88 92 - 2 Qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup
3 1 0 2 81 89 - 2 Qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup
3 1 0 2 77 90 - 2 Qualified for 1997–98 European Challenge Cup
21 September 1996 Ulster 25-35 Leinster Ravenhill  
Try: Ritchie
Duncan
Topping
Con: Laing (2)
Pen: Laing (2)
 Preview[7]
Report[8] 		Try: McKenna (2)
Jameson
Spicer
Con: Governey (3)
Pen: Governey (3)
 Referee: L. Mayne
Leinster lieup:

1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Angus McKeen (Lansdowne),
4. Steve Jameson, 5. Greg Duffy,
6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Dean Oswald, 8. Kevin Spicer,
9. Niall Hogan, 10. Richard Governey,
11. Denis Hickie (St. Mary's), 12. Kurt McQuilkin (Lansdowne), 13. Martin Ridge (Old Belvedere), 14. David Coleman (Terenure),
15. Peter McKenna (Old Belvedere).

28 September 1996 Leinster 40–45 Munster Donnybrook  
Try: Coleman
Ridge
McQuilkin
Francis
Hickie
Con: Governey (3)
Pen: Governey (3)
 Report[9][10] Try: Galwey (2)
Halvey
Con: Begley
Lynch (2)
Pen: Begley (8)
Lynch (2)
Drop: Keane
 Referee: Graham Hughes
Leinster lineup:

1. Henry Hurley, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Angus McKeen,
4. Steve Jameson, 5. Neil Francis,
6. Chris Pim (c), 7. Stephen Rooney, 8. Kevin Spicer,
9. Alain Rolland, 10. Richard Governey,
11. Denis Hickie, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. David Coleman,
15. Peter McKenna.
Replacements: Girvan Dempsey (for Coleman), Paul Flavin (for McKeen).

5 October 1996 Connacht 22-13 Leinster Galway Sportsgrounds  
Try: Leahy
Elwood
Pen: Elwood (3)
 Report[11] Try: Francis
Con: Governey
Pen: Governey (2)
Leinster lineup:

1. Paul Flavin, 2. Mark McDermott, 3. Angus McKeen,
4. Steve Jameson, 5. Neil Francis,
6. Kelvin Leahy, 7. Kevin Spicer, 8. Stephen Rooney,
9. Alain Rolland (c), 10. Richard Governey,
11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Paddy Gavin,
15. Peter McKenna.
Replacemets: Shane Byrne (for McDermott 30'), Vince Cunningham (for Ridge 35'), Greg Duffy (for Francis 38').

References

  1. ^ Hugh Farrelly, The Coaching Revolution", Irish Independent, 20 May 2011
  2. ^ "Reid's cautionary note on contracts", Belfast Telegraph, 23 March 1996
  3. ^ Kieran Rooney, "Brillian Botica makes it a black day for Leinster", Evening Herald, 12 October 1996
  4. ^ John O'Sullivan, "Leinster mauled by Tigers", Irish Independent, 17 October 1996
  5. ^ "Leinster toast a Heineken victory", Sunday World, 27 October 1996
  6. ^ John O'Sullivan, "Mac's boot floors Pau", Evening Herald, 2 November 1996
  7. ^ Jim Stokes, "Ulster seek sweet revenge", Belfast Telegraph, 20 September 1996
  8. ^ Peter O'Reilly, "Leinster pack steamrolls ahead", The Sunday Tribune, 22 September 1996
  9. ^ "Leinster 40-45 Leinster". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Marvellous Munster best in a classic", Limerick Leader, 30 September 1996
  11. ^ "Eric makes it 'ell for Leinster", Sunday Life, 6 October 1996
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