2004-05 was Leinster's tenth season under professionalism, and their only season under head coach Declan Kidney. Gerry Murphy was interim head coach for the last few games of the season.
Before the start of the 2004–05 season, the 'Lions' was dropped from the name.
Leinster improved during the 2004–05 season, finishing 3rd, just three points behind the eventual winners, the Ospreys. Leinster also won all of their pool games in that year's European Cup, and were again among the favourites for the title, however they went out at the quarter final stage to Leicester Tigers.
In the 2005 IRUPA awards, Shane Jennings won the unsung hero award, and David Holwell won the newcomer of the year award."O'Connor takes top award", Evening Herald, 5 May 2005 Holwell was the Leinster player of the year.
Player transfers
Players in Guy Easterby from Rotherham Titans"Guy Easterby signs one year contract with Leinster", Irish Rugby, 13 July 2004 Dave Gannon Jamie Heaslip Dave Hewitt from Connacht David Holwell from Hurricanes"Leinster sign Holwell subject to medical", Irish Rugby, 6 September 2004 David McAllister Ricky Nebbett from Leicester Tigers"Leicester prop signs for Leinster", Irish Examiner, 26 August 2004 Anton O’Donnell
Players out Enda Bohan Sean Brophy Rob Connolly Niall Breslin (retired) James Downey to Connacht Jason Moran Shane Whelan Matt Leek Niall O’Brien Daragh O’Shea
Squad
Leinster Rugby squadLeinster squad, 2003-04, Guinness Pro12, retrieved 29 August 2026Props Emmet Byrne Reggie Corrigan Peter Coyle John Lyne Ricky Nebbett Anto O’Donnell Niall Treston
Hookers Brian Blaney David Blaney Shane Byrne Gavin Hickie
Locks Leo Cullen Dave Gannon Ben Gissing Malcolm O'KellyBack row Victor Costello Simon Crawford Des Dillon Keith Gleeson Jamie Heaslip Shane Jennings Aidan McCullen Eric Miller Ciarán Potts Niall Ronan
Scrum-halves Guy Easterby * Brian O'Meara Brian O'Riordan
Fly-halves Felipe Contepomi Dave Hewitt David Holwell David McAllister Christian WarnerCentres Brendan Burke John Hearty Shane Horgan Kieran Lewis Brian O'Driscoll David Quinlan
Wings Gary Brown Gordon D'Arcy Denis Hickie (c) John McWeeney James Norton
Fullbacks Girvan Dempsey (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Celtic League
Table Pos.TeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATBPLBPPts1 Neath-Swansea Ospreys201613508267+241532773762 Munster201514470331+139543361693 Leinster201217455350+105463243574 Newport Gwent Dragons201109381436−55394342505 Llanelli Scarlets209011402446−44484273466 Glasgow Warriors208111465466−1405847457 Edinburgh209011409407+2474044448 Ulster209011363387−24373425439 Cardiff Blues208111350404−543541244010 Connacht207112317407−903246253711 Borders203017337556−21931662418Source: RaboDirect PRO12
Fixtures
Heineken Cup
Pool 2 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts Leinster (1)66003310232571001572026 Bath630315114149122271215 Benetton Treviso 63031421−7136181−452014 Bourgoin6006929−2098237−139022
Quarter-final
End-of-season awards Winners of the 2005 Leinster Rugby Awards were:"Holwell Voted Leinster Player Of 2004/05", Irish Rugby, 30 May 2005
Player of the year: David Holwell Young player of the year: Jamie Heaslip Special merit award: Victor Costello Senior club player of the year: Rob Connolly, Greystones RFC Leinster League player of the year: Joey Moran, Naas RFC School of the year: Belvedere College Women's player of the year: Orla Brennan, Navan R.F.C. Volunteer of the year: Harry Brooks, Clontarf RFC
References