The Ireland national rugby union team toured the South Seas in June 2003, playing matches against Australia, Tonga and Samoa. Head coach Eddie O'Sullivan initially selected a squad of 41 players for the tour. Keith Wood also travelled with the tour party as an additional player for training purposes. However Rob Henderson, Denis Hickie and Anthony Foley all subsequently withdrew due to injuries and Frankie Sheahan had to return home after testing positive for Salbutamol. Aiden McCullen and Mike Mullins were both then called up as replacements. Mark McHugh marked his senior international debut with a try against Tonga, while McCullen and Anthony Horgan made their senior international debuts against Samoa. In the same game, Ronan O'Gara gave a man of the match performance, scoring 32 of Ireland's 40 points.
Touring party
Manager: Eddie O'Sullivan Captains: David Humphreys and Reggie Corrigan
Backs Jonny Bell (Dungannon/Ulster) Paul Burke (NEC Harlequins) Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster) Guy Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets) Anthony Horgan (Cork Constitution/Munster) Tyrone Howe (Dungannon/Ulster) David Humphreys (Dungannon/Ulster) John Kelly (Cork Constitution/Munster) Kevin Maggs (Bath Rugby) Mark McHugh (St. Mary's College/Connacht) Mike Mullins (Young Munster/Munster) Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers) Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster) Brian O'Meara (Cork Constitution/Leinster) David Quinlan (Blackrock College/Leinster) Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster) James Topping (Ballymena/Ulster) Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
Forwards Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) Emmet Byrne (St. Mary's College/Leinster) Shane Byrne (Blackrock College/Leinster) Reggie Corrigan (Greystones/Leinster) Victor Costello (St. Mary's College/Leinster) Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster) Kieron Dawson (London Irish) Simon Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets) Justin Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster) Keith Gleeson (St. Mary's College/Leinster) Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster) Gary Longwell (Ballymena/Ulster) Aiden McCullen (Leinster) Eric Miller (Terenure College/Leinster) Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster) Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Malcolm O'Kelly (St. Mary's College/Leinster) Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster) Paul Shields (Ballymena/Ulster) David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
Matches Australia
Australia: 15. Chris Latham, 14. Wendell Sailor, 13. Morgan Turinui, 12. Steve Kefu, 11. Joe Roff, 10. Elton Flatley, 7. George Gregan (c), 6. Bill Young, 5. Jeremy Paul, 4. Patricio Noriega, 3. David Giffin, 2. Nathan Sharpe, 1. David Lyons, 9. George Smith – Replacements: 16. Brendan Cannon, 17. Ben Darwin, 18. Dan Vickerman, 19. Phil Waugh, 20. Chris Whitaker, 21. Nathan Grey, 22. Lote Tuqiri
Ireland: 15. Girvan Dempsey, 14. James Topping, 13. Geordan Murphy, 12. Kevin Maggs, 11. John Kelly, 10. David Humphreys (c), 7. Keith Gleeson, 6. Alan Quinlan, 5. Malcolm O'Kelly, 4. Gary Longwell, 3. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 1. Marcus Horan, 9. Peter Stringer – Replacements: 17. Emmet Byrne, 18. Paul O'Connell, 21. Ronan O'Gara – Unused: 16. Paul Shields, 19. Eric Miller, 20. Guy Easterby, 22. Tyrone Howe
Tonga
Tonga: 15. Gus Leger, 14. Pierre Hola, 13. Johnny Ngauamo, 12. John Payne, 11. Simana Mafileʻo, 10. Toni Alatini, 9. David Palu, 1. Tonga Leaʻaetoa, 2. Vili Maʻasi, 3. Hemani Lavaka, 4. Milton Ngauamo, 5. Inoke Afeaki (c), 6. Nisifolo Naufahu, 7. Stanley Afeaki, 8. Saia Latu – Replacements: 16. Ephraim Taukafa, 17. Kisi Pulu, 18. Viliami Vaki, 21. Taniela Tulia – Unused: 19. Benhur Kivalu, 20. Willie Gibbons, 22. Tevita Tuʻifua
Ireland: 15. Mark McHugh, 14. John Kelly, 13. Mike Mullins, 12. Jonny Bell, 11. Tyrone Howe, 10. Ronan O'Gara, 9. Guy Easterby, 8. Eric Miller, 7. Kieron Dawson, 6. Simon Easterby, 5. Paul O'Connell, 4. Leo Cullen, 3. Reggie Corrigan (c), 2. Shane Byrne, 1. Justin Fitzpatrick – Replacements: 17. Simon Best, 18. Donncha O'Callaghan, 19. David Wallace, 22. Gordon D'Arcy – Unused: 16. Paul Shields, 20. Brian O'Meara, 21. Paul Burke
Samoa
Samoa: 15. Fa'atonu Fili, 14. Lome Fa'atau, 13. Dale Rasmussen, 12. Brian Lima, 11. Ron Fanu'atanu, 10. Earl Va'a, 9. Denning Tyrell, 8. Kas Lealamanu'a, 7. Trevor Leota, 6. Jeremy Tomuli, 5. Opeta Palepoi, 4. Kitiona Viliamu, 3. Leo Lafaiali'i, 2. Maurie Fa'asavalu, 1. Semo Sititi (c) – Replacements: 16. Jonathan Meredith, 17. Tamato Leupolu, 18. Des Tuiali'i, 20. Steve So'oialo, 21. Gaolo Elisara – Unused: 19. Ponali Tapelu, 22. Dom Feau'nati
Ireland: 15. Girvan Dempsey, 14. John Kelly, 13. Mike Mullins, 12. Jonny Bell, 11. Anthony Horgan, 10. Ronan O'Gara, 9. Guy Easterby, 8. Eric Miller, 7. Aidan McCullen, 6. Simon Easterby, 5. Paul O'Connell, 4. Leo Cullen, 3. Reggie Corrigan (c), 2. Shane Byrne, 1. Marcus Horan – Replacements: 16. Paul Burke, 17. Gordon D'Arcy, 18. Donncha O'Callaghan, 19. Paul Shields, 20. Emmet Byrne, 21. Brian O'Meara, 22. David Wallace
References