1997–98 Leinster Rugby season

1997–98 Leinster Rugby season
Ground(s)Donnybrook, Dublin
CoachMike Ruddock
Top scorerAlan McGowan (90)
Most triesJohn McWeeney (4)
League(s)Heineken Cup
IRFU Interprovincial Championship
← 1996–97 1998–99 →

The 1997-98 season was Leinster's third season under professionalism. Mike Ruddock was director of rugby. The previous coaching team of team manager Jim Glennon, forwards coach Ciaran Callan and backs coach Paul Dean, remained in place under him.[1] They competed in the Heineken Cup, finishing third in their pool, and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, finishing as champions.

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

Leinster Rugby squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

  • Aaron Freeman (Lansdowne)
  • Steve Jameson (St Mary's)
  • Hubi Kos (Balckrock)

Back row

  • Trevor Brennan (St Mary's)
  • Victor Costello (St Mary's)
  • Tony Goldfinch (Blackrock)
  • Colin McEntee (Lansdowne)
  • Declan O'Brien (DLSP)
  • David O'Sullivan (Skerries)
  • Stephen Rooney (Lansdowne)

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.

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 Leinster 26-25 Ulster Donnybrook  
Try: Rolland
Hickie
O'Mahony
Con: Rolland
Pen: Governey (3)
 Report[4] Try: Laing
Con: Laing
Pen: Laing (6)
 Referee: David McHugh
Leinster lineup:

1. Henry Hurley, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen,
4. Declan O'Brien, 5. Aaron Freeman,
6. Trevor Brennan, 7. Victor Costello, 8. Stephen Rooney,
9. Alain Rolland, 10. Richard McGoverney,
11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie,
15. Ciran Clarke.
Replacements: Reggie Corrigan (for McKeen 45'), Steve Jameson for O'Brien 72'), C. McEntee (for Brennan 72').

23 August 1997 Munster 15–12 Leinster Mardyke  
Pen: O'Gara
Mahoney (3)
Drop: O'Gara
 Report[5] Pen: McGowan (4)
Leinster lineup:

1. Henry Hurley, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen,
4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman,
6. Colin McEntee, 7. Trevor Brennan, 8. Victor Costello,
9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan,
11. Darragh O'Mahony, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie,
15. Ciran Clarke.
Replacements: Declan O'Brien (for Freeman 66')

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

1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen,
4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman,
6. Trevor Brennan, 7. Tony Goldfinch, 8. Victor Costello,
9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan,
11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin (c), 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie,
15. Kevin Nowlan.
Replacements: Declan O'Brien (for Jameson 70')

Heineken Cup

Main article: 1997–98 Heineken Cup

Pool 1

Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
Toulouse 6 5 0 1 25 12 13 200 121 79 10
Leicester 6 4 0 2 16 14 2 163 117 46 8
Leinster 6 2 0 4 15 19 −4 137 167 −30 4
Milan 6 1 0 5 15 26 −11 111 206 −95 2
6 September 1997
15:00 		Leinster 25–34 Toulouse Donnybrook  
Try: McGowan
O'Brien
Penalty try
Con: McGowan (2)
Pen: McGowan (2)
 Report[7] Try: Marfaing
Begue
Garbajosa
Bondouy
Con: Ougier (4)
Pen: Ougier (2)
 Attendance: 6,300
Leinster lineup:

1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen,
4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman,
6. Trevor Brennan, 7. Tony Goldfinch, 8. Victor Costello,
9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan,
11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie,
15. Kevin Nowlan.
Replacements: Peter Brice, David O'Sullivan, Declan O'Brien.

12 September 1997
17:30 		Leinster 16–9 Leicester Tigers Donnybrook  
Try: Nowlan
Con: McGowan
Pen: McGowan (3)
 Report[8] Pen: Stransky (3)
 Attendance: 7,000
Leinster lineup:

1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Peter Bruce,
4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman,
6. Trevor Brennan, 7. David O'Sullivan, 8. Victor Costello,
9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan,
11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie,
15. Kevin Nowlan.
Replacements: Paul Flavin.

20 September 1997
16:00 		Milan 33–32 Leinster Stadio Comunale Giuriati  
Try: Properzi
Turner
Vaccari
Gómez
Cuttitta
Con: Platania
Pen: Platania (2)
 Report[9] Try: McWeeney (2)
D. O'Mahony
McGowan
Con: McGowan (3)
Pen: McGowan (2)
 Attendance: 1,100
Leinster lineup:

1. Paul Flavin, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Reggie Corrigan,
4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman,
6. Trevor Brennan, 7. David O'Sullivan, 8. Victor Costello,
9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan,
11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie,
15. Kevin Nowlan.
Replacements: Emmet Byrne.

27 September 1997
15:00 		Leicester Tigers 47–22 Leinster Welford Road  
Try: Barlow
Healey
Malone
Rowntree
Greenwood
Con: Serevi (2)
Pen: Stransky (3)
Serevi (2)
Drop: Stransky
 Report[10] Try: McWeeney
Hickie (2)
Con: McGowan (2)
Pen: McGowan
 Attendance: 10,392
Leinster lineup:

1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen,
4. Steve Jameson, 5. Aaron Freeman,
6. Trevor Brennan, 7. David O'Sullivan, 8. Victor Costello,
9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan,
11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie,
15. Kevin Nowlan.
Replacements: Ciaran Clarke, James Blaney, Declan O'Brien.

4 October 1997
15:00 		Leinster 23–6 Milan Donnybrook  
Try: Ridge (2)
O'Mahony
Con: McGowan
Pen: McGowan (2)
 Report[11] Pen: Filizzola (2)
 Attendance: 5,500
Leinster lineup:

1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Emmet Byrne,
4. Steve Jameson, 5. Hubi Kos,
6. Declan O'Brien, 7. Stephen Rooney, 8. Victor Costello,
9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan,
11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie,
15. Kevin Nowlan.
Replacements: Ciaran Clarke, James Blaney.

11 October 1997
15:20 		Toulouse 38–19 Leinster Les Sept Deniers  
Try: Garbajosa (2)
Bondouy (2)
Martin
Con: Delaigue (2)
 Report[12] Try: McWeeney
Con: McGowan
Pen: McGowan (4)
 Attendance: 7,000
Leinster lineup:

1. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Angus McKeen,
4. Steve Jameson, 5. Hubi Kos,
6. Trevor Brennan, 7. Stephen Rooney, 8. Victor Costello,
9. David O'Mahony, 10. Alan McGowan,
11. John McWeeney, 12. Kurt McQuilkin, 13. Martin Ridge, 14. Denis Hickie,
15. Kevin Nowlan.
Replacements: Richard Governey, Emmet Byrne.

References

  1. ^ "Full steam ahead for Ruddock", Irish Independent, 14 April 1997
  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. ^ Michael McGeary, "Adding Insult to Injury", Sunday Life, 17 August 1997
  5. ^ "Munster 15-12 Leinster". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  6. ^ John O'Sullivan, "Leinster snatch it", Sunday Independent, 31 August 1997
  7. ^ Brendan Fanning, "Leinster pay price for soft approach", Sunday Independent, 7 September 1997
  8. ^ Kieran Rooney, "Leinster stun Tigers", Irish Independent, 13 September 1997
  9. ^ "Leinster pipped at the death", Irish Examiner, 22 September 1997
  10. ^ John O'Sullivan, "Leicester take their revenge as Leinster disappoint", Sunday Independent, 28 September 1997
  11. ^ "Poor Leinster avenge Cup loss in Italy", Irish Examiner, 6 October 1997
  12. ^ "Lion-hearted Leinster refuse to cave in", Sunday Independent, 12 October 1997
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