The 1997–98 season was Ulster Rugby's third season under professionalism, during which they competed in the Heineken Cup and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. Ulster Rugby Limited was incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee on 9 May 1997.John Winter, "Who Owns Ulster Rugby? (Explained)", Rugby Dome, 10 October 2022Ulster Rugby Limited, Companies Check, retrieved 17 December 2023
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."Seventy six players win IRFU contracts", Irish Independent, 17 July 1997 Each province could have a maximum of 30 contracted players.Barry Coughlan, "IRFU brings home the message with provincial contracts", Irish Examiner, 1 May 1998
Mark McCall was offered a full-time contract, but turned it down and signed for London Irish, making him unavailable for Ulster this season.Jim Stokes, "Mark off to join Exiles", Belfast Telegraph, 17 July 1997. Full-time contracts were also offered to Jan Cunningham and Stephen Bell, and part-time contracts to Sheldon Coulter, Gary Longwell, Andrew Matchett, Dean Macartney and Tony McWhirter (Ballymena), Stuart Duncan, Richard Mackey and Denis McBride (Malone), Gary Leslie and John Patterson (Dungannon), Clem Boyd (Bedford), Bryn Cunningham (Bective), Stuart Laing (Portadown), Stephen McKinty (Bangor), and Andy Ward (Ballynahinch).
After the departure of Tony Russ, Clive Griffiths was lined up to take over as head coach, but withdrew in the summer. Davy Haslett, a geography teacher at RBAI, was offered the position on the eve of the 1997 Ireland A rugby union tour of Oceania, on which he was assistant coach. Between returning from that tour and a pre-booked family holiday, he only had four weeks to work with the team before the season started. Charlie McAleese was appointed assistant coach, and John Kinnear team manager.Jonathan Bradley, The Last Amateurs: The Incredible Story of Ulster Rugby's 1999 European Champions, The Blackstaff Press, 2018 Ulster finished third in the Interprovincial Championship, and bottom of their pool in the Heineken Cup.
A representative match against South African side Geuteng Falcons in early 1998, for which Ulster were to be coached by Ballymena coach Nelie Smith, was called off after clubs refused to release their players.Jim Stokes, "Ulster's pride lies in tatters", 9 January 1998
Paddy Johns and Andy Ward were selected for the Ireland squad for the 1998 Five Nations Championship. Johns, Ward and James Topping were selected for the 1998 tour to South Africa.
Players selected Ulster Rugby squadProps Richard Mackey, Malone Gary Leslie, Dungannon Rab Irwin, Ballymena
Hookers Stephen Ritchie, Ballymena Ciaran O'Kane (Portadown) Michael Patton (Dungannon)
Locks Tony McWhirter, Ballymena Gary Longwell, Ballymena Murtagh Rea, Malone Charlie Simpson, DungannonBack row Stephen McKinty, Bangor Keith Gallick, City of Derry Andy Ward, Ballynahinch* Roger Wilson,Note: not the Roger Wilson who played for Ulster from 2003 to 2008, and from 2021 to 2017. Instonians Stuart Duncan, Malone Kevin McKee, Instonians Dean Macartney, Ballymena
Scrum-halves Andrew Matchett, Ballymena Stephen Bell, Dungannon Kenton Hillman, Instonians
Fly-halves Stuart Laing, Portadown Bryn Cunningham, BectiveCentres Maurice Field, Malone Stan McDowell, Ballymena Michael Jackson, Blackrock
Wings James Topping, Ballymena Sheldon Coulter, Ballymena Jan Cunningham, TCD Andy Park, Ballymena Graeme McCluskey, Portadown Scott Carroll, Malone
Fullbacks Robin Morrow, Dungannon Ross Collins, Collegians (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 1997-98 Heineken Cup 6 1 0 5 95 195 -100 6 23 IRFU Interprovincial Championship 3 1 0 2 59 65 -6 4 6 Total 9 2 0 7 154 260 -106 10 29
1997–98 Heineken Cup
Pool 2 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts Wasps660031121924310413912 Glasgow63031415−1132167−356 Swansea 62041516−1157161−44 Ulster6105623−1795195−1002
1997–98 IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D LFA BPPts Status 3 2 0 1 61 46 - 8 Champions; qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup 3 2 0 1 56 43 - 8 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup 3 1 0 2 59 65 - 4 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup 3 1 0 2 42 64 - 4 Qualified for 1998–99 European Challenge Cup
Home attendance Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance––––– 1997–98 Heineken Cup32,617 3,2502,1007,8502,617
Friendlies
Ulster Rugby Awards The inaugural Guinness Ulster Rugby Awards dinner was held on 20 May 1998 at the Balmoral Conference Centre. Winners were:Jim Stokes, "Handy Andy is tops", Belfast Telegraph, 21 May 1998
Player of the year: Andy Ward Personality of the year: Andy Ward Club of the year: Ballynahinch RFC Coach of the year: Charlie McAleese, Dromore High School Youth player of the year: Diarmuid O'Kane, St Colman's College, Newry Schools player of the year: Andy Hughes, Royal School Dungannon Dorrington B. Faulkner Memorial Award: Ken Reid, former IRFU president and Ireland team manager
References