The 1997-98 season was Connacht's third season under professionalism. Warren Gatland was in his second season as head coach. They competed in the European Challenge Cup, making the quarter-finals, and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, finishing fourth.
The win in Northampton and victory over Bordeaux-Bègles in Stade André Moga made Connacht the first professional Irish team to beat an English team in England and a French team in France respectively.
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
Players selected Connacht Rugby squadProps Martin Cahill (Bohemians) Michael Finlay (Galwegians) John Maher (Bective Rangers) Ray Ward (Old Belevedere)
Hookers Bernard Jackman (Clontarf) Billy Mulcahy (Skerries)
Locks Graham Heaslip (Galwegians) (c) Mark McConnell (Buccaneers)Back row Junior Charlie (Galwegians) Barry Gavin (Galwegians) Shane McEntee (Wanderers) Mick O'Neill (Blackrock) Mark Reilly (St Mary's) Rory Rogers (Blackrock)
Scrum-halves Conor McGuinness (St Mary's)
Fly-halves Eric Elwood (Galwegians)Centres Simon Allnutt (Corinthians) Pat Duignan (Galwegians) Mervyn Murphy (Galwegians) Alan Reddan (Lansdowne)
Wings Nicky Barry (Clontarf) Nigel Carolan (Galwegians)
Fullbacks Willie Ruane (Ballina) Russell Southam (Suttonians) (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D LFA BPPts Status 3 2 0 1 61 46 - 4 Champions; qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup 3 2 0 1 56 43 - 4 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup 3 1 0 2 59 65 - 2 Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup 3 1 0 2 42 64 - 2 Qualified for 1998–99 European Challenge Cup
European Challenge Cup
Pool 4 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts Connacht65011113−214497+4710 Northampton Saints63031713+4161116+456 Bordeaux-Begles6303106+4112110+26 Nice61051420−694188−942
Quarter-final
References