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.
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."Ulster name pro director", Irish Independent, 5 June 1996
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."Reid's cautionary note on contracts", Belfast Telegraph, 23 March 1996 English clubs were prepared to release their Irish players for the Heineken Cup, but not for the Interprovincial Championship,Jim Stokes, "Time is right for a radical change", Ireland's Saturday Night, 24 August 1996 but clubs in England and Wales were unhappy at having to compete against representative teams from Ireland in the Heineken Cup.Peter O'Reilly, "Ulster coach warns on power balance", The Sunday Tribune, 22 September 1996 Out-half David Humphreys and lock Jeremy Davidson defied their club, London Irish, by competing in the Heineken Cup for Ulster,Bill Leith, "Rugby Union: Topping grabs spoils", The Independent, 13 October 1996 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."Ulster lose London Irish pair", The Irish Times, 14 November 1996
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.,Micheal McCleary, "Russ job! Rugby chief quits", Sunday Life, 17 November 1996 unhappy that after eight games, he would not be able to work with his Ulster players again for six months.Jonathan Bradley, The Last Amateurs: The Incredible Story of Ulster Rugby's 1999 European Champions, The Blackstaff Press, 2018 Clive Griffiths was lined up to take over, but withdrew for family reasons.Peter O'Reilly, "Contract jitters go on despite moves", The Sunday Tribune, 11 May 1997 Davy Haslett, a geography teacher at Royal Belfast Academical Institution and assistant coach on the 1997 Ireland A rugby union tour of Oceania, was named as coach for the 1997–98 season in June.Micheal McGeary, "Davy has a job", Sunday Life, 22 June 1997
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.
Players selected Ulster Rugby squadProps Richard Mackey, Malone Gary Leslie, Dungannon Clem Boyd, Currie
Hookers Stephen Ritchie, Ballymena
Locks Paddy Johns, Saracens Jeremy Davidson, London Irish Gary Longwell, Ballymena Alan Robinson, Ballymena Charlie Simpson, DungannonBack row Stuart Duncan, Malone Denis McBride, Malone Stephen McKinty, Bangor John Patterson, Dungannon
Scrum-halves Andrew Matchett, Ballymena Stephen Bell, Dungannon Kenton Hillman, Instonians
Fly-halves David Humphreys, London Irish Stuart Laing, PortadownCentres Sheldon Coulter, Ballymena Maurice Field, Malone Mark McCall, Dungannon
Wings Jan Cunningham, TCD James Topping, Ballymena Neil McCluskey, QUB
Fullbacks 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.
Season record Competition Played Won Drawn Lost PF PA PD TF TA 1996-97 Heineken Cup 4 1 0 3 75 87 -12 6 10 IRFU Interprovincial Championship 3 1 0 2 81 89 -8 8 8 Representative 1 0 0 1 26 39 -13 2 4 Total 8 2 0 6 182 215 -33 16 22
1996–97 Heineken Cup
Pool 3 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts Brive4400138510665418 Harlequins43012081213195366 Neath42021016–683109–264 Ulster4103610–47587–122 Caledonia40041320–7117156–390
1996–97 IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D LFA BPPts Status 3 3 0 0 117 92 - 12 Champions; qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup 3 1 0 2 88 92 - 4 Qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup 3 1 0 2 81 89 - 4 Qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup 3 1 0 2 77 90 - 4 Qualified for 1997–98 European Challenge Cup
Top three teams qualify for next season's Heineken Cup.
Home attendance Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance––––– 1996–97 Heineken Cup25,750 8,0003,50011,5005,750
Representative matches
Friendlies
References