The 1997-98 season was Leinster's third season under professionalism. Mike Ruddock was director of rugby. The previous coaching team of team manager Jim Glennon, forwards coach Ciaran Callan and backs coach Paul Dean, remained in place under him."Full steam ahead for Ruddock", Irish Independent, 14 April 1997 They competed in the Heineken Cup, finishing third in their pool, and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, finishing as champions.
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
Leinster Rugby squadProps Peter Bruce (Terenure) Emmet Byrne (St Mary's) Reggie Corrigan (Greystones) Paul Flavin (Blackrock) Henry Hurley (Old Wesley) Angus McKeen (Landsowne)
Hookers James Blaney (Terenure) Shane Byrne (Blackrock)
Locks Aaron Freeman (Lansdowne) Steve Jameson (St Mary's) Hubi Kos (Balckrock)Back row Trevor Brennan (St Mary's) Victor Costello (St Mary's) Tony Goldfinch (Blackrock) Colin McEntee (Lansdowne) Declan O'Brien (DLSP) David O'Sullivan (Skerries) Stephen Rooney (Lansdowne)
Scrum-halves David O'Mahony (Lansdowne) Alain Rolland (Old Wesley)
Fly-halves Richard Governey (Lansdowne) Alan McGowan (Blackrock)Centres Kurt McQuilkin (Lansdowne) Martin Ridge (Old Belvedere)
Wings Denis Hickie (St Mary's) John McWeeney (St Mary's) Darragh O'Mahony (Moseley)
Fullbacks Kieran Clarke (Terenudre) Kevin Nowlan (St Mary's) (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
Heineken Cup
Pool 1 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts Toulouse65012512132001217910 Leicester640216142163117468 Leinster62041519−4137167−304 Milan61051526−11111206−952
References