In June 1996, Ulster hired former Leicester Tigers coach Tony Russ on a five-year contract as their Director of Rugby. He would coach the Ulster senior team, organise strategy, and help develop the game from schools to senior level, working closely with IRFU Director of Rugby Ray Southam.[1]
At this stage the Irish provinces were still representative teams, not professional clubs. However, Ulster 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] English clubs were prepared to release their Irish players for the Heineken Cup, but not for the Interprovincial Championship,[3] but clubs in England and Wales were unhappy at having to compete against representative teams from Ireland in the Heineken Cup.[4] Out-half David Humphreys and lock Jeremy Davidson defied their club, London Irish, by competing in the Heineken Cup for Ulster,[5] but were unavailable for Ulster's match against Australia as it clashed with London Irish's league match against Wasps. In Humphreys' absence, Ulster called on former Scotland "A" international Stuart Laing.[6]
Ulster finished third in the Interprovincial Championship, and fourth in their pool in the Heineken Cup. In November, Russ quit to join English second division club Waterloo F.C.,[7] unhappy that after eight games, he would not be able to work with his Ulster players again for six months.[8]: 11 Clive Griffiths was lined up to take over, but withdrew for family reasons.[9] Davy Haslett, a geography teacher at Royal Belfast Academical Institution and assistant coach on the 1997 Ireland A rugby union tour of Oceania,[8]: 10–11 was named as coach for the 1997–98 season in June.[10]
(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Jeremy Davidson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. David Humphreys, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Sheldon Coulter, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow. Replacements: Neil McCluskey, for Coulter, 30 mins), Stuart Laing, for Field, 73 mins)
1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Jeremy Davidson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Andrew Matchett, 10. David Humphreys, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. James Topping, 13. Sheldon Coulter, 14. Neil McCluskey, 15. Robin Morrow. Replacements: John Patterson (for McBride).
1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Jeremy Davidson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Andrew Matchett, 10. David Humphreys, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Maurice Field, 13. Mark McCall, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.
1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Jeremy Davidson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Andrew Matchett, 10. David Humphreys, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Maurice Field, 13. Mark McCall, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.
1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Clem Boyd, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Charlie Simpson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Mark McCall, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.
1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Clem Boyd, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Alan Robinson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Mark McCall, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.
1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Clem Boyd, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Alan Robinson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Sheldon Coulter, 13. Mark McCall, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.
1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Paddy Johns, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Andrew Matchett, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Mark McCall, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.
1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Charlie Simpson, 5. Gary Longwell, 6. John Patterson, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Andrew Matchett, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Sheldon Coulter, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Stan McDowell. Replacement: Tony McWhirter (for McKinty).
1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. K. Gallagher, 5. Charlie Simpson, 6. John Patterson, 7. Stephen McKinty, 8. Tony McWhirter, 9. Neil Doak, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Sheldon Coulter, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Stan McDowell.
Referencesedit
^"Ulster name pro director", Irish Independent, 5 June 1996
^"Reid's cautionary note on contracts", Belfast Telegraph, 23 March 1996
^Jim Stokes, "Time is right for a radical change", Ireland's Saturday Night, 24 August 1996
^Peter O'Reilly, "Ulster coach warns on power balance", The Sunday Tribune, 22 September 1996
^ abBill Leith, "Rugby Union: Topping grabs spoils", The Independent, 13 October 1996
^"Ulster lose London Irish pair", The Irish Times, 14 November 1996
^Alex George, "Ulster too strong for Dungannon", News Letter, 7 September 1996
January 01, 1970
1996, ulster, rugby, season, ulster, second, season, under, professionalism, during, which, they, competed, irfu, interprovincial, championship, heineken, ground, ravenhill, stadium, capacity, coach, tony, russcaptain, denis, mcbridetop, scorerdavid, humphreys. The 1996 97 Ulster Rugby season was Ulster s second season under professionalism during which they competed in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship and the Heineken Cup 1996 97 Ulster Rugby seasonGround s Ravenhill Stadium Capacity 12 500 Coach es Tony RussCaptain s Denis McBrideTop scorerDavid Humphreys 52 Most triesStuart Duncan 3 League s Heineken Cup 4th in pool IRFU Interprovincial Championship 3rd of 4 Team kit 1995 96 1997 98 In June 1996 Ulster hired former Leicester Tigers coach Tony Russ on a five year contract as their Director of Rugby He would coach the Ulster senior team organise strategy and help develop the game from schools to senior level working closely with IRFU Director of Rugby Ray Southam 1 At this stage the Irish provinces were still representative teams not professional clubs However Ulster 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 English clubs were prepared to release their Irish players for the Heineken Cup but not for the Interprovincial Championship 3 but clubs in England and Wales were unhappy at having to compete against representative teams from Ireland in the Heineken Cup 4 Out half David Humphreys and lock Jeremy Davidson defied their club London Irish by competing in the Heineken Cup for Ulster 5 but were unavailable for Ulster s match against Australia as it clashed with London Irish s league match against Wasps In Humphreys absence Ulster called on former Scotland A international Stuart Laing 6 Ulster finished third in the Interprovincial Championship and fourth in their pool in the Heineken Cup In November Russ quit to join English second division club Waterloo F C 7 unhappy that after eight games he would not be able to work with his Ulster players again for six months 8 11 Clive Griffiths was lined up to take over but withdrew for family reasons 9 Davy Haslett a geography teacher at Royal Belfast Academical Institution and assistant coach on the 1997 Ireland A rugby union tour of Oceania 8 10 11 was named as coach for the 1997 98 season in June 10 Ulster players selected for Ireland for the 1997 Five Nations Championship were Jonny Bell Allen Clarke Jeremy Davidson Maurice Field David Humphreys Paddy Johns Denis McBride and James Topping Jeremy Davidson was selected for the 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa Contents 1 Players selected 2 1996 97 Heineken Cup 2 1 Pool 3 3 1996 97 IRFU Interprovincial Championship 4 Representative matches 5 Friendlies 6 ReferencesPlayers selected editUlster Rugby squad Props nbsp Richard Mackey Malone nbsp Gary Leslie Dungannon nbsp Clem Boyd Currie Hookers nbsp Stephen Ritchie Ballymena Locks nbsp Paddy Johns Saracens nbsp Jeremy Davidson London Irish nbsp Gary Longwell Ballymena nbsp Alan Robinson Ballymena nbsp Charlie Simpson Dungannon Back row nbsp Stuart Duncan Malone nbsp Denis McBride Malone nbsp Stephen McKinty Bangor nbsp John Patterson Dungannon Scrum halves nbsp Andrew Matchett Ballymena nbsp Stephen Bell Dungannon Fly halves nbsp David Humphreys London Irish nbsp Stuart Laing Portadown Centres nbsp Sheldon Coulter Ballymena nbsp Maurice Field Malone nbsp Mark McCall Dungannon Wings nbsp Jan Cunningham TCD nbsp James Topping Ballymena nbsp Neil McCluskey QUB Fullbacks nbsp Robin Morrow QUB c denotes the team captain Bold denotes internationally capped players denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality 1996 97 Heineken Cup editMain article 1996 97 Heineken Cup Pool 3 edit Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts nbsp Brive 4 4 0 0 13 8 5 106 65 41 8 nbsp Harlequins 4 3 0 1 20 8 12 131 95 36 6 nbsp Neath 4 2 0 2 10 16 6 83 109 26 4 nbsp Ulster 4 1 0 3 6 10 4 75 87 12 2 nbsp Caledonia 4 0 0 4 13 20 7 117 156 39 0 13 October 1996 Caledonia nbsp 34 41 nbsp Ulster McDiarmid Park 14 30 Try ShepherdRouseGrimesCon Shepherd 2 Pen Shepherd 4 Drop Newton Report 5 11 Try Humphreys 2 Cunningham 2 McKintyCon Humphreys 2 Pen Humphreys 2 LaingDrop Humphreys Attendance 2 400Referee J C Gastou Ulster lineup 1 Richard Mackey 2 Stephen Ritchie 3 Gary Leslie 4 Paddy Johns 5 Jeremy Davidson 6 Stuart Duncan 7 Denis McBride c 8 Stephen McKinty 9 Stephen Bell 10 David Humphreys 11 Jan Cunningham 12 Sheldon Coulter 13 Maurice Field 14 James Topping 15 Robin Morrow Replacements Neil McCluskey for Coulter 30 mins Stuart Laing for Field 73 mins 16 October 199619 00 Ulster nbsp 15 21 nbsp Harlequins Ravenhill Pen Humphreys 4 Drop Humphreys Report 12 13 Try WatsonO LearyCon CarlingPen Carling 2 Attendance 8 000Referee I Ramage Ulster lineup 1 Richard Mackey 2 Stephen Ritchie 3 Gary Leslie 4 Paddy Johns 5 Jeremy Davidson 6 Stuart Duncan 7 Denis McBride c 8 Stephen McKinty 9 Andrew Matchett 10 David Humphreys 11 Jan Cunningham 12 James Topping 13 Sheldon Coulter 14 Neil McCluskey 15 Robin Morrow Replacements John Patterson for McBride 26 October 199614 30 Neath nbsp 15 13 nbsp Ulster The Gnoll Try WilliamsGerrardCon DaviesPen Davies Report 14 Try MatchettCon HumphreysPen Humphreys 2 Attendance 2 000 Ulster lineup 1 Richard Mackey 2 Stephen Ritchie 3 Gary Leslie 4 Gary Longwell 5 Jeremy Davidson 6 Stuart Duncan 7 Denis McBride c 8 Stephen McKinty 9 Andrew Matchett 10 David Humphreys 11 Jan Cunningham 12 Maurice Field 13 Mark McCall 14 James Topping 15 Robin Morrow 2 November 199614 30 Ulster nbsp 6 17 nbsp Brive Ravenhill Pen HumphreysDrop Humphreys Report 15 Highlights Try DuboissetCarratViarsCon Venditti Attendance 3 500Referee H Lewis Ulster lineup 1 Richard Mackey 2 Stephen Ritchie 3 Gary Leslie 4 Paddy Johns 5 Jeremy Davidson 6 Stuart Duncan 7 Denis McBride c 8 Stephen McKinty 9 Andrew Matchett 10 David Humphreys 11 Jan Cunningham 12 Maurice Field 13 Mark McCall 14 James Topping 15 Robin Morrow 1996 97 IRFU Interprovincial Championship editMain article IRFU Interprovincial Championship Team P W D L F A BP Pts Status Munster 3 3 0 0 117 92 12 Champions qualified for next season s Heineken Cup Leinster 3 1 0 2 88 92 4 Qualified for next season s Heineken Cup Ulster 3 1 0 2 81 89 4 Qualified for next season s Heineken Cup Connacht 3 1 0 2 77 90 4 Top three teams qualify for next season s Heineken Cup 21 September 1996 Ulster nbsp 25 35 nbsp Leinster Ravenhill Try RitchieDuncanToppingCon Laing 2 Pen Laing 2 Preview 16 Report 17 Try McKenna 2 JamesonSpicerCon Governey 3 Pen Governey 3 Referee L Mayne Ulster lineup 1 Richard Mackey 2 Stephen Ritchie 3 Clem Boyd 4 Gary Longwell 5 Charlie Simpson 6 Stuart Duncan 7 Denis McBride c 8 Stephen McKinty 9 Stephen Bell 10 Stuart Laing 11 Jan Cunningham 12 Mark McCall 13 Maurice Field 14 James Topping 15 Robin Morrow 28 September 1996 Ulster nbsp 32 27 nbsp Connacht Ravenhill Try DuncanLaingToppingCon LaingPen Laing 5 Report 18 Try CareyElwoodCon ElwoodPen Elwood 5 Drop Elwood Referee B Smith Ulster lineup 1 Richard Mackey 2 Stephen Ritchie 3 Clem Boyd 4 Gary Longwell 5 Alan Robinson 6 Stuart Duncan 7 Denis McBride c 8 Stephen McKinty 9 Stephen Bell 10 Stuart Laing 11 Jan Cunningham 12 Mark McCall 13 Maurice Field 14 James Topping 15 Robin Morrow 5 October 1996 Munster nbsp 27 24 nbsp Ulster Thomond Park Try DineenGalweyCon BegleyPen Begley 3 Drop McIvorKeene Report 19 Try DuncanCoulterCon LaingPen Laing 4 Referee A Lewis Ulster lineup 1 Richard Mackey 2 Stephen Ritchie 3 Clem Boyd 4 Gary Longwell 5 Alan Robinson 6 Stuart Duncan 7 Denis McBride c 8 Stephen McKinty 9 Stephen Bell 10 Stuart Laing 11 Jan Cunningham 12 Sheldon Coulter 13 Mark McCall 14 James Topping 15 Robin Morrow Representative matches edit16 November 1996 Ulster nbsp 26 39 nbsp Australia Ravenhill Try ToppingPenalty tryCon Laing 2 Pen Laing 2 Report 20 Try EalesRoffCampesePenalty tryCon BurkePen BurkeKnox Referee K Macartney Ulster lineup 1 Richard Mackey 2 Stephen Ritchie 3 Gary Leslie 4 Gary Longwell 5 Paddy Johns 6 Stuart Duncan 7 Denis McBride c 8 Stephen McKinty 9 Andrew Matchett 10 Stuart Laing 11 Jan Cunningham 12 Mark McCall 13 Maurice Field 14 James Topping 15 Robin Morrow Friendlies edit24 August 1996 Ulster nbsp 17 43 nbsp London Irish Ravenhill Try RitchieHillmanFieldCon Coulter Report 21 Try HumphreysNewingtonFloodWoodsBishop 2 RichardsonCon Humphreys 5 3 September 1996 Ballymena nbsp 5 20 nbsp Ulster Eaton Park Try Beattie Report 22 Try LongwellRitchieMatchettCon LaingPen Laing Ulster lineup 1 Richard Mackey 2 Stephen Ritchie 3 Gary Leslie 4 Charlie Simpson 5 Gary Longwell 6 John Patterson 7 Denis McBride c 8 Stephen McKinty 9 Andrew Matchett 10 Stuart Laing 11 Jan Cunningham 12 Sheldon Coulter 13 Maurice Field 14 James Topping 15 Stan McDowell Replacement Tony McWhirter for McKinty 6 September 1996 Dungannon nbsp 17 47 nbsp Ulster Stevenson Park Try SandfordMcCaugheyDunnCon Blair Report 23 Try McDowellMcKinty 2 Topping 2 LongwellMcWhirterCon Laing 6 Ulster lineup 1 Richard Mackey 2 Stephen Ritchie 3 Gary Leslie 4 K Gallagher 5 Charlie Simpson 6 John Patterson 7 Stephen McKinty 8 Tony McWhirter 9 Neil Doak 10 Stuart Laing 11 Jan Cunningham 12 Sheldon Coulter 13 Maurice Field 14 James Topping 15 Stan McDowell References edit Ulster name pro director Irish Independent 5 June 1996 Reid s cautionary note on contracts Belfast Telegraph 23 March 1996 Jim Stokes Time is right for a radical change Ireland s Saturday Night 24 August 1996 Peter O Reilly Ulster coach warns on power balance The Sunday Tribune 22 September 1996 a b Bill Leith Rugby Union Topping grabs spoils The Independent 13 October 1996 Ulster lose London Irish pair The Irish Times 14 November 1996 Micheal McCleary Russ job Rugby chief quits Sunday Life 17 November 1996 a b Jonathan Bradley The Last Amateurs The Incredible Story of Ulster Rugby s 1999 European Champions The Blackstaff Press 2018 Peter O Reilly Contract jitters go on despite moves The Sunday Tribune 11 May 1997 Micheal McGeary Davy has a job Sunday Life 22 June 1997 Humphreys points the way for Ulster Irish Independent 14 October 1996 Jim Stokes Defiant Ulster lose to late Harlequins try Irish Independent 17 October 1996 Jim Stokes Salute brave Ulster Belfast Telegraph 17 October 1996 Ulster rue missed chances as Neath steal it Sunday Independent 27 October 1996 Ulster challenge fades tamely Sunday Independent 3 November 1996 Jim Stokes Ulster seek sweet revenge Belfast Telegraph 20 September 1996 Peter O Reilly Leinster pack steamrolls ahead The Sunday Tribune 22 September 1996 Sean Diffley Connacht falter with the winning post in sight Sunday Independent 29 September 1996 Michael McGeary Ulster fall short Sunday Life 6 October 1996 Micheal McGeary Brave Ulster Sunday Life 17 November 1996 Neil McKay All change in rugby s new world Sunday Life 25 August 1996 Jim Stokes Ballymena expose Ulster s gaping void Belfast Telegraph 4 September 1996 Alex George Ulster too strong for Dungannon News Letter 7 September 1996 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1996 97 Ulster Rugby season amp oldid 1209114603, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
