The 1995–96 season was Ulster Rugby's first season under professionalism. Brian Bloomfield was in his second season as coach.Jim Stokes, "Future looks bleak for Ulster side", Belfast Telegraph, 29 December 1995 Stephen Blake-Knox was the new chairman of selectors, replacing Dick Milliken; the other selectors were Bloomfield, Dermott Dalton, Philip Rainey and Nigel Carr.Jim Stokes, "Bloomfield backs Euro challenge", Belfast Telegraph, 1 September 1995 35-year-old Malone RFC centre Bill Harbinson, who first played for Ulster in 1986, was captain,Micheal McGeary, "Skipper's role fits the Bill", Sunday Life, 19 November 1995 in his final season before retirement from the game.Jim Stokes, "Bill's final Ulster curtain", Belfast Telegraph, 21 December 1995 They played six representative matches, defeating Griqualand West, New Zealand Federation U23 and New South Wales, and losing to a Côte Basque Select XV, the Combined Services and Edinburgh District. They finished second behind Leinster in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. They were one of three Irish provinces entered into the inaugural Heineken Cup, losing both their pool matches against Cardiff and Bègles-Bordeaux.
Lock Jeremy Davidson, hooker Allen Clarke, out-half David Humphreys and wing James Topping made their debuts for Ireland this season.
Background On 26 August, rugby union was declared open to professionalism. At this stage the Irish provinces were still representative teams, not professional clubs.Peter O'Reilly, "Ulster coach warns on power balance", The Sunday Tribune, 22 September 1996 Many involved in the game were concerned that domestic clubs could not afford to pay players, who could be lost to professional teams in England.Jim Stokes, "IRFU tackle 'pro' issue", Belfast Telegraph, 28 August 1995 In September, the IRFU confirmed that, for this season, only senior international players would be paid,Jim Stokes, "International players only to 'cash in'", Belfast Telegraph, 12 September 1995 with a one-year moratorium on payment for club and provincial players.Jimmy Davidson, "Market forces takes strangle hold on rugby", Belfast Telegraph, 4 November 1995 Up to 35 Ireland players would be offered £26,000 contracts for the 1996 Five Nations Championship.Jim Stokes, "Irish international players to pocket £26,000", Belfast Telegraph, 23 October 1995 That squad included Ulster players Jonathan Bell, Allen Clarke, Jeremy Davidson, Maurice Field, David Humphreys, Paddy Johns, Denis McBride and Mark McCall. As the situation developed, match fees became available for Heineken Cup and Interprovincial matches, with players who appeared in all six matches in line to receive almost £3,000.Tyrone Howe, "Local game needs a professional outlook", Belfast Telegraph, 13 January 1996
The inaugural Heineken Cup was launched in the summer of 1995 on the initiative of the Five Nations Committee to provide a new level of cross border competition. Twelve sides representing Ireland, Wales, Italy, Romania and France competed in four pools of three with the group winners going directly into the semi-finals. English and Scottish teams did not take part in the inaugural competition. The IRFU confirmed that Ireland would enter provincial teams, as their clubs were unlikely to be strong enough for the competition."Ireland confirm Euro entry", Belfast Telegraph, 22 August 1995 They were initially offered two places, but Tom Kiernan, Ireland's representative on the organising committee, was able to secure a third. The three places would go to the top three teams in the 1994 IRFU Interprovincial Championship, Munster, Ulster and Leinster.Jim Stokes, "Ulster to face Cardiff?", Belfast Telegraph, 29 August 1995
Events Jonathan Bell, who had impressed with Ireland in the World Cup, was offered contracts to play rugby league by both Sheffield and Halifax, but turned them down to remain available for Ireland, with a long-term goal of selection for the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in two years' time. The former Ballymena player, now studying at Loughborough University, had signed for Northampton but remained available for Ulster.Alex George, "Jonathan plumps for union game!", News Letter, 26 July 1995 Other Ulster players who featured for Ireland at the World Cup were Paddy Johns, Denis McBride, Maurice Field and Davy Tweed.Mark Jones, "Irish try, try and try again", Sunday Life, 28 May 1995Kieran Rooney, "Irish brawn stifles Japan", Irish Independent, 1 June 1995Kieran Rooney, "Irish mission accomplished", Irish Independent, 5 June 1995David Walsh, "A team without belief", Sunday Independent, 11 June 1996
Ulster's campaign started in August with a tour to Capbreton, France, to play a Côte Basque Select XV. The French side picked up Ulster's travel and accommodation expenses, in recompense for a scheduled game which was called off at the last minute the previous season when Côte Basque were unable to field a team.Alex George, "Ulster lads find form in S Africa", News Letter, 25 July 1995 Stephen Blake-Knox, the new chairman of selectors, had a limited panel of players to select from, with twelve regular players declaring themselves unavailable.Alex George, "Ulster's 'no-go' list reaches 12!", News Letter, 2 August 1995 With Simon Booth on honeymoon, Richard Mackey was selected at tighthead prop, with Gary Leslie at loosehead in place of the injured Gary Bell, and Allen Clarke kept his place at hooker. Jeremy Davidson and Gary Longwell made up the second row. New Zealand-born flanker Bruce Cornelius replaced David Erskine, who missed the tour for a job interview, in the back row alongside Kevin McKee and Roger Wilson. Neil Doak, who had made his Ulster debut in February, was selected at scrum-half, with David Humphreys at out-half. Bill Harbinson captained the side, lining up in the centres with Jonathan Bell. Two new faces on the wings were Jan Cunningham, replacing the injured Tyrone Howe, and James Topping, with Stan McDowell playing fullback."Doak gets Ulster call-up", Sunday Independent, 13 August 1995Jim Stokes, "Jan in Ulster tour call-up", Belfast Telegraph, 17 August 1995"Ulster changes", Irish Examiner, 25 October 1995Jim Stokes, "Bruce called up for Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 21 August 1995
On 1 October Ulster played touring South African provincial side Griqualand West. Davy Tweed came in to the second row alongside Jeremy Davidson. Paddy Johns was named at number 8, with Stephen McKinty and Denis McBride on the flanks. With David Humphreys unavailable after moving to Oxford University, Mark McCall was selected at out-half. Jonathan Bell was unavailable with a hamstring injury, so Ireland international Maurice Field joined Bill Harbinson in the centres, and former international fullback Colin Wilkinson was drafted into the team, despite having retired from representative rugby two years previously, on the basis of his club form for Malone.Kieran Rooney, "Six of the best for Ulster", Irish Independent, 25 October 1995Jim Stokes, "Emergency call for Colin", Belfast Telegraph, 30 October 1995 James Topping scored three tries and Wilkinson scored two drop goals in a convincing 54–10 win.Jim Stokes, "Ulster point the way in solid style", Belfast Telegraph, 2 November 1995
They next faced a touring New Zealand Federation under-23 side on 9 November. Although originally scheduled as an Ulster Development match, Ulster decided to field their senior team after their development side was badly beaten by Natal Emerging.Jim Stokes, "Ulster Seniors face young All Blacks", Belfast Telegraph, 2 November 1995 Stephen Ritchie came in for his provincial debut at hooker. Gary Longwell returned alongside Jeremy Davidson in the second row, and Bruce Cornelius and Kevin McKee came back into the back row with Stephen McKinty. Michael Rainey started alongside Maurice Field in the centres, with Graham McCluskey and debutant Andy Park on the wings. Park scored the opening try in a scrappy win.Jim Stokes, "Ritchie ready to grab his chance", Belfast Telegraph, 9 November 1995Jim Stokes, "Scrappy Ulster in night of toil", Belfast Telegraph, 10 November 1995
For the match against the Combined Services on 14 November, Simon Booth was selected ahead of Richard Mackey at loosehead prop. Tweed and Longwell made up the second row with Conelius, McKee and McKinty making up the back row. Andrew Matchett came in for Neil Doak at scrum-half, Darryl Callaghan made his provincial debut at out-half, with Mark McCall moved to centre alongside Harbinson, and fellow debutant Robin Morrow came in for Wilkinson at fullback.Jim Stokes, "Ulster backs against wall", Belfast Telegraph, 14 November 1995 The Services team included former Ulster and Ireland lock Brian McCall, now a major in Britain's UN peacekeeping forces in Bosnia.Jim Stokes, "Services will give Ulster a tough battle", Belfast Telegraph, 13 November 1995 Ulster were well beaten, with only a late try by Stephen Ritchie making the scoreline look respectable."A bridge too far for Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 15 November 1995
Ulster opened their Interprovincial campaign at home against defending champions Munster on 25 November.Jim Stokes, "Tough test for Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 24 November 1995 Richard Mackey and Allen Clarke were restored to the front row. Jeremy Davidson returned to partner Davy Tweed in the second row after making his Ireland debut against Fiji. McBride and Stuart Duncan were on the flanks, with Paddy Johns at number 8. Mark McCall moved back to out-half, with Maurice Field returning to partner Harbinson in the centres, Jan Cunningham and James Topping back on the wings, and Jonathan Bell returning to the team at fullback.Jim Stokes, "Munster battle for debutant Davidson", Belfast Telegraph, 20 November 1995Jim Stokes, "Duncan gets his due reward", Belfast Telegraph, 23 November 1995 Ulster won 14–10 in an uninspiring encounter,David Walsh, "Munster Capitulation", Sunday Independent, 26 November 1995 with Richard Mackey scoring the winning try 12 minutes from time.Micheal McGeary, "Seconds out for Munster", Sunday Life, 26 November 1995
Sale loose forward David Erskine had been declared ineligible for Ulster by the IRFU, as he was not born in Ireland and was no longer resident there.Jim Stokes, "Erskine's left out in the cold", Belfast Telegraph, 10 November 1995 He won his appeal against the decision,Micheal McGeary, "Erskine Back in the Frame", Sunday Life, 12 November 1995 and was selected at number 8 for Ulster's opening Heineken Cup match away to Cardiff on 28 November, in place of Paddy Johns. Gary Longwell replaced Davy Tweed, who was unable to get time off from his job with Northern Ireland Railways, in the second row.Jim Stokes, "Erskine ready to prove a point", Belfast Telegraph, 27 November 1995Jim Stokes, "Ulster pair pull out of Welsh showdown", Belfast Telegraph, 27 November 1995"We'll pay the price for miserly attitude", Evening Echo, 27 November 1995 Ulster were beaten 46–6. Cardiff, in common with other Welsh sides, had adopted the relatively new tactic of lifting in the lineout; Irish teams had not, and Ulster players were unable to deal with it.Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh, "How Ulster endured a real nightmare start in Europe before 1999 Heineken Cup success", Belfast Telegraph 17 September 2020
The following weekend, they went to Galway to play Connacht in the Interprovincial Championship on 2 December. Paddy Johns returned at number 8, and Davy Tweed was back in the second row alongside Jeremy Davidson.Jim Stokes "O'Sullivan's men must not be taken for granted", Belfast Telegraph, 1 December 1995 They won 27–9, based on the hard work of Johns, Duncan and McBride in the back row,John O'Sullivan, "Ulster bounce back from Cardiff Mauling", Sunday Independent, 3 December 1995 and Tweed's dominance in the lineout.John Fallon, "Connacht are a cakewalk for Ulster", Sunday Life, 3 December 1995