1997–98 Connacht Rugby season

1997–98 Connacht Rugby season
Ground(s)The Sportsground, Galway
CoachWarren Gatland
Top scorerEric Elwood (112)
Most triesNigel Carolan (3)
League(s)Challenge Cup (quarter-finals)
IRFU Interprovincial Championship (4th of 4)
← 1996–97 1998–99 →

The 1997-98 season was Connacht's third season under professionalism. Warren Gatland was in his second season as head coach. They competed in the European Challenge Cup, making the quarter-finals, and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, finishing fourth.

The win in Northampton and victory over Bordeaux-Bègles in Stade André Moga made Connacht the first professional Irish team to beat an English team in England and a French team in France respectively.[1]

The IRFU offered new contracts for provincial players for this season. Full-time players would receive a retainer of £25,000, plus a win bonus of £500 for Heineken Cup matches. Part-time players would be paid a retainer of £7,500, plus a match fee of £400 for Interprovincial matches and £800 for the Heineken Cup, and a win bonus of £450 for both competitions.[2] Each province could have a maximum of 30 contracted players.[3]

Players selected

Connacht Rugby squad

Props

  • Martin Cahill (Bohemians)
  • Michael Finlay (Galwegians)
  • John Maher (Bective Rangers)
  • Ray Ward (Old Belevedere)

Hookers

Locks

  • Graham Heaslip (Galwegians) (c)
  • Mark McConnell (Buccaneers)

Back row

  • Junior Charlie (Galwegians)
  • Barry Gavin (Galwegians)
  • Shane McEntee (Wanderers)
  • Mick O'Neill (Blackrock)
  • Mark Reilly (St Mary's)
  • Rory Rogers (Blackrock)

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

  • Simon Allnutt (Corinthians)
  • Pat Duignan (Galwegians)
  • Mervyn Murphy (Galwegians)
  • Alan Reddan (Lansdowne)

Wings

Fullbacks

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

IRFU Interprovincial Championship

Main article: IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D L F A BP Pts Status
3 2 0 1 61 46 - 4 Champions; qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup
3 2 0 1 56 43 - 4 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup
3 1 0 2 59 65 - 2 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup
3 1 0 2 42 64 - 2 Qualified for 1998–99 European Challenge Cup
16 August 1997 Connacht 9–29 Munster Galway Sportsgrounds  
Pen: Elwood (3)
 Report[4] Try: Halvey
O'Gara
Galwey
Con: O'Gara
Pen: O'Gara
Drop: O'Gara
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Martin Cahill,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
6. Rory Rogers, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Junior Charlie,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. S. Allnutt, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Bernard Jackman (for Mulcahy), Mick O'Neill (for Rogers), R, Ward (for Cahel).

23 August 1997 Connacht 27-17 Ulster Galway Sportsgrounds  
Try: McEntee
Murphy
Charlie
Con: Elwood (3)
Pen: Elwood (2)
 Report[5] Try: McDowell (2)
Con: Laing (2)
Pen: Laing
 Referee: L. Mayne
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
6. Shane McEntee, 7. Junior Charlie, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Pat Duignan, 13. S. Allnutt, 14. Nicky Barry,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacement: Mervyn Murphy (for Allnutt).

30 August 1997 Leinster 23-6 Connacht Donnybrook Stadium  
Try: Ridge
Con: McGowan
Pen: McGowan (3)
 Report[6] Pen: Elwood (2)
 Referee: D. McHugh
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
6. Rory Rogers, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Pat Duignan, 13. S. Allnutt, 14. Nicky Barry,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Russell Southam (for Ruane 53'), Bernard Jackman (for Mulcahy 68'), R. Ward (for Maher 79').

European Challenge Cup

Main article: 1997–98 European Challenge Cup

Pool 4

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
Connacht 6 5 0 1 11 13 −2 144 97 +47 10
Northampton Saints 6 3 0 3 17 13 +4 161 116 +45 6
Bordeaux-Begles 6 3 0 3 10 6 +4 112 110 +2 6
Nice 6 1 0 5 14 20 −6 94 188 −94 2
9 September 1997 Connacht 43 – 13 Northampton Saints The Sports Ground  
15:00 Try: Duignan
McEntee
Ruane
Carolan
Con: Elwood (3)
Allnutt
Pen: Elwood (4)
Murphy
 Report[7] Try: Beal
Con: Hepher
Pen: Hepher (2)
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
4. Mark McConnell, 5. Graham Heaslip,
6. Rory Rogers (c), 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Russell Southam, Simon Allnutt, Martin Cahill, Mark Reilly.

14 September 1997 Nice 20 – 16 Connacht Stade du Ray  
15:00 Try: Dasalmartini
Martin
Penalty try
Con: Fausto
Pen: Fausto
 Report[8] Try: Duignan
Con: Elwood
Pen: Elwood (3)
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
6. Mark Reilly, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Ray Ward, Martin Cahill, Mick O'Neill.

20 September 1997 Bordeaux-Begles 9 – 15 Connacht Stade Andre Moga  
20:00 Pen: Etchelo (3)
 Report[9] Pen: Elwood (5)
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Ray Ward (for Maher 48'), Martin Cahill (for Finlay 60'), Alan Reddan (for Murphy 72')

27 September 1997 Connacht 28 – 25 Nice The Sports Ground  
15:00 Try: Heaslip
Murphy
Pen: Elwood (6)
 Report[10] Try: Gioletti (2)
Bekkal
Berdeu
Con: Deauze
Drop: Deauze
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
15. Willie Ruane.

4 October 1997 Connacht 22 – 15 Bordeaux-Begles The Sports Ground  
15:00 Try: Carolan
Con: Elwood
Pen: Elwood (5)
 Report[11] Try: Lemeur
Ossard
Con: Berthe
Pen: Berthe
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Martin Cahill.

11 October 1997 Northampton Saints 15 – 20 Connacht Franklin's Gardens  
15:00 Try: Townsend
Bell
Con: Townsend
Pen: Townsend
 Report[12] Try: Maher
Charlie
Carolan
Con: Elwood
Pen: Elwood
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
6. Junior Charlie, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Shane McEntee,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Mark Reilly, Bernard Jackman.

Quarter-final

8 November 1997 Agen 40–27 Connacht Stade Armandie  
20:00 Try: Dal Maso
Loubere(2)
Benazzi (2)
Con: Bouic (3)
Pen: Bouic (3)
 Report[13] Try: Maher
Southam
McGuinness
Con: Elwood (3)
Pen: Elwood (2)
Connacht lineup:

1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
6. Shane McEntee, 7. Junior Charlie, 8. Barry Gavin,
9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
15. Willie Ruane.
Replacements: Russell Southam, Bernard Jackman, Martin Cahill, Rory Rogers.

References

  1. ^ "Forget the acrimony, Irish rugby owes Warren Gatland a belated 'thanks'". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Seventy six players win IRFU contracts", Irish Independent, 17 July 1997
  3. ^ Barry Coughlan, "IRFU brings home the message with provincial contracts", Irish Examiner, 1 May 1998
  4. ^ "Munster romp to victory", Sunday Life, 17 August 1997
  5. ^ Michael McGeary, "Ulster Shamed in Wild West", Sunday Life, 24 August 1997
  6. ^ John O'Sullivan, "Leinster snatch it", Sunday Independent, 31 August 1997
  7. ^ "West awake! Connacht stun England aces", Irish Independent, 10 September 1997
  8. ^ "Late penalty try blow for battling Connacht", Irish Independent, 15 September 1997
  9. ^ "Connacht rugby reaches new level with win on French soil", Connacht Sentinel, 23 September 1997
  10. ^ "Murphy's try sweet music for Connacht", Sunday Independent, 28 September 1997
  11. ^ Michael Glynn, "Connacht continue to stir up a rugby storm!", Connacht Tribune, 10 October 1997
  12. ^ Michael Glynn, "Connacht rugby's proudest day!", Sunday Independent, 17 October 1997
  13. ^ Michael Glynn, "Gatland's troops test might of Agen", Connacht Tribune, 14 November
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