The 2000–01 season was Ulster Rugby's sixth since the advent of professionalism, and their third under coach Harry Williams. They competed in the Heineken Cup and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. Williams announced in August 2000 that he would leave at the end of the season."Williams to quit as Ulster coach", BBC Sport, 31 August 2000
The IRFU rejected a proposal for a Celtic League involving three of the Irish provinces, two Scottish super-districts and seven Welsh clubs, each playing 22 matches. The IRFU argued that the structure proposed would add too many games and leave provincial players unable to play for their clubs, and made a counter-proposal of an eleven-game season, which the Welsh and Scottish unions rejected.Tony Ward, "IRFU says no to plans for new Celtic League", Irish Independent, 14 March 2000 Discussions continued,Kieran Rooney, "Celtic League looming large in rugby horizon", Irish Independent, 18 August 2000 and a format was finally agreed for the following season."Celtic League gets green light to kick off in August", Evening Herald, 31 May 2001
They were bottom of their pool in the Heineken Cup, failing to qualify for the knockout stage. They finished second in the Interprovincial Championship, qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup. The average crowd at Interprovincial matches was 7,000, comparing favourably to 3,000 in the English first division.Barry Coughlan, "Doubts remain about benefits of Celtic League", Irish Examiner, 4 October 2000 Tyrone Howe was Ulster's Player of the Year, and was selected for the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.
Player transfers
Players in Clem Boyd from Bath"Prop Boyd forced to retire", BBC Sport, 4 November 2003 John Campbell from TerenureJim Stokes, "Campbell signed up to replace Veitayaka [sic]", Belfast Telegraph, 10 May 2000 Ryan Constable from SaracensGavin Mairs, "Retiring Ulster ace gets a big vote of thanks", Belfast Telegraph, 4 July 2008 Brad Free from Bective Rangers"The joy of being free of injury", Irish Times, 26 October 2000"Brad Free to play for Ireland", Irish Independent, 29 October 1997 Grant Henderson from NatalRichard Bullick, "Ulster sign Springboks", News Letter, 23 June 2000 Russell Nelson from Blue BullsJonathan McConnell, "Ulster recruit South Africans", ESPN Scrum, 23 June 2000 Shane Stewart from Ballymena
Players out Simon Mason to Stade FrancaisGavin Mortimer, "The ten biggest flops in the Top 14", Rugby World, 18 December 2013 Eric Miller to Leinster Spencer Bromley to Worcester Riaz Fredericks (released) Joeli Veitayaki (released)
Squad Ulster Rugby squadProps Simon Best Clem Boyd John Campbell Justin Fitzpatrick
Hookers Allen Clarke Paul Shields Richard Weir Mark Crick
Locks Mark Blair Paddy Johns Aidan Kearney Gary LongwellBack row Chris McCarey Tony McWhirter Russell Nelson* Dion O'Cuinneagain Derek Topping Andy Ward
Scrum-halves Stephen Bell Neil Doak Brad Free*
Fly-halves David Humphreys (c) Niall MaloneCentres Jonny Bell Tyrone Howe Seamus Mallon Shane Stewart
Wings Ryan Constable Sheldon Coulter Jan Cunningham Tyrone Howe James Topping
Fullbacks Grant Henderson Bryn Cunningham (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 2000-01 Heineken Cup 6 1 1 4 146 201 -59 11 21 IRFU Interprovincial Championship 6 3 0 3 144 119 25 15 9 Total 12 4 1 7 290 320 -30 24 30
2000–01 Heineken Cup
TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts Cardiff640218135182146368 Saracens 640214131174140348 Toulouse621319154171182−115 Ulster61141121−10146205−593
2000-01 IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D L F A BP Pts Status651015199123Champions; qualified for 2001–02 Heineken Cup6303144119315Qualified for 2001–02 Heineken Cup6213109111212Qualified for 2001–02 Heineken Cup610510017515 Qualified for 2001–02 European Challenge Cup
Home attendance Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance––––– 2000–01 Heineken Cup312,500 13,50012,00037,50012,500
Friendlies
Ulster Rugby Awards The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held on 24 May 2001. Winners were:"Honours for Howe and Longwell", BBC Sport, 25 May 2001
Ulster Rugby player of the year: Tyrone Howe Supporters' Club player of the year: Tyrone Howe Guinness personality of the year: Gary Longwell Coach of the year: Willie Anderson, Dungannon RFC Schools player of the year: Glen Telford, RBAI Youth player of the year: Wayne Dougan, Banbridge RFC Club of the year: Clogher Valley RFC PRO Award: Terry Jackson, Dungannon RFC Dorrington B Faulkner Memorial Award: Roy McGarvey, Coleraine
References