The 1995–96 season was Leinster Rugby's first season under professionalism. Ciaran Callan was officially head coach, but team manager Jim Glennon was in overally charge, with Callan coaching the forwards and Paul Dean coaching the backs.Hugh Farrelly, The Coaching Revolution", Irish Independent, 20 May 2011 In the inaugural Heineken Cup, they won both their pool matches and qualified for the semi-final, which they lost to Cardiff. They won the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, winning all four of their matches.
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 Leinster players [TBC]. 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
Players selected Leinster Rugby squadProps Paul Flavin (Blackrock College) Henry Hurley (Old Wesley) Angus McKeen (Lansdowne) Dean Oswald (Blackrock College) Paul Wallace (Blackrock College)
Hookers Shane Byrne (Blackrock College)
Locks Neil Francis (Old Belevdere) Steve Jameson (St Mary's College) Malcolm O'Kelly (St Mary's College) Brian Rigney (Shannon)Back row Victor Costello (St Mary's College) Eric Miller (Leicester) Dean Oswald (Blackrock) Chris Pim (Old Wesley) (c) Stephen Rooney (Lansdowne)
Scrum-halves Niall Hogan (Terenure) Alain Rolland (Blackrock College)
Fly-halves Alan McGowan (Blackrock College)Centres Vince Cunningham (St Mary's College) Kurt McQuilkin (Bective Rangers)
Wings Paddy Gavin (Old Belvedere) Niall Woods (Blackrock College)
Fullbacks Ciaran Clarke (Terenure) Ray Hennessy (Lansdowne) Conor O'Shea (London Irish) (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Heineken Cup
Pool 3 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPtsStatus Leinster2200431474344Advanced to the semi-finals Pontypridd21012205335182Eliminated Milan200223−13355−220
Semi-finals
IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D LFAPts Status 4 4 0 0 133 53 16 Champions; qualified for next season's Heineken Cup 4 3 0 1 73 53 12 Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup 4 2 0 2 91 58 8 Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup 4 1 0 3 71 113 4 4 0 0 4 51 142 0
Representative
References