1996–97 Ulster Rugby season

The 1996–97 Ulster Rugby season was Ulster's second season under professionalism, during which they competed in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship and the Heineken Cup.

1996–97 Ulster Rugby season

Ground(s)	Ravenhill Stadium (Capacity: 12,500)
Coach(es)	Tony Russ
Captain(s)	Denis McBride
Top scorer	Stuart Laing (59)
Most tries	Stuart Duncan (3) James Topping (3)
League(s)	Heineken Cup (4th in pool) IRFU Interprovincial Championship (3rd of 4)
Team kit
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

In June 1996, Ulster hired former Leicester Tigers coach Tony Russ on a five-year contract as their Director of Rugby. He would coach the Ulster senior team, organise strategy, and help develop the game from schools to senior level, working closely with IRFU Director of Rugby Ray Southam.^[1]

At this stage the Irish provinces were still representative teams, not professional clubs. However, Ulster were now offering contracts and match fees for Heineken Cup and Interprovincial matches, although these contracts sometimes conflicted with players contracted to clubs in England.^[2] English clubs were prepared to release their Irish players for the Heineken Cup, but not for the Interprovincial Championship,^[3] but clubs in England and Wales were unhappy at having to compete against representative teams from Ireland in the Heineken Cup.^[4] Out-half David Humphreys and lock Jeremy Davidson defied their club, London Irish, by competing in the Heineken Cup for Ulster,^[5] but were unavailable for Ulster's match against Australia as it clashed with London Irish's league match against Wasps. In Humphreys' absence, Ulster called on former Scotland "A" international Stuart Laing.^[6]

Ulster finished third in the Interprovincial Championship, and fourth in their pool in the Heineken Cup. In November, Russ quit to join English second division club Waterloo F.C.,^[7] unhappy that after eight games, he would not be able to work with his Ulster players again for six months.^[8]: 11 Clive Griffiths was lined up to take over, but withdrew for family reasons.^[9] Davy Haslett, a geography teacher at Royal Belfast Academical Institution and assistant coach on the 1997 Ireland A rugby union tour of Oceania,^{[8]: 10–11} was named as coach for the 1997–98 season in June.^[10]

Ulster players selected for Ireland for the 1997 Five Nations Championship were: Jonny Bell, Allen Clarke, Jeremy Davidson, Maurice Field, David Humphreys, Paddy Johns, Denis McBride and James Topping. Jeremy Davidson was selected for the 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa.

Players selected

Ulster Rugby squad
Props Richard Mackey, Malone Gary Leslie, Dungannon Clem Boyd, Currie Hookers Stephen Ritchie, Ballymena Locks Paddy Johns, Saracens Jeremy Davidson, London Irish Gary Longwell, Ballymena Alan Robinson, Ballymena Charlie Simpson, Dungannon	Back row Stuart Duncan, Malone Denis McBride, Malone Stephen McKinty, Bangor John Patterson, Dungannon Scrum-halves Andrew Matchett, Ballymena Stephen Bell, Dungannon Kenton Hillman, Instonians Fly-halves David Humphreys, London Irish Stuart Laing, Portadown	Centres Sheldon Coulter, Ballymena Maurice Field, Malone Mark McCall, Dungannon Wings Jan Cunningham, TCD James Topping, Ballymena Neil McCluskey, QUB Fullbacks Robin Morrow, QUB
(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
1996-97 Heineken Cup	4	1	0	3		75	87	-12		6	10
IRFU Interprovincial Championship	3	1	0	2		81	89	-8		8	8
Representative	1	0	0	1		26	39	-13		2	4
Total	8	2	0	6		182	215	-33		16	22

1996–97 Heineken Cup

Main article: 1996–97 Heineken Cup

Pool 3

Team	P	W	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Pts
Brive	4	4	0	0	13	8	5	106	65	41	8
Harlequins	4	3	0	1	20	8	12	131	95	36	6
Neath	4	2	0	2	10	16	–6	83	109	–26	4
Ulster	4	1	0	3	6	10	–4	75	87	–12	2
Caledonia	4	0	0	4	13	20	–7	117	156	–39	0

13 October 1996	Caledonia	34-41	Ulster	McDiarmid Park
14:30	Try: Shepherd Rouse Grimes Con: Shepherd (2) Pen: Shepherd (4) Drop: Newton	Report[5][11]	Try: Humphreys (2) Cunningham (2) McKinty Con: Humphreys (2) Pen: Humphreys (2) Laing Drop: Humphreys	Attendance: 2,400 Referee: J. C. Gastou
Ulster lineup: 1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Jeremy Davidson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. David Humphreys, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Sheldon Coulter, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow. Replacements: Neil McCluskey, for Coulter, 30 mins), Stuart Laing, for Field, 73 mins)

16 October 1996 19:00	Ulster	15–21	Harlequins	Ravenhill
	Pen: Humphreys (4) Drop: Humphreys	Report[12][13]	Try: Watson O'Leary Con: Carling Pen: Carling (2)	Attendance: 8,000 Referee: I. Ramage
Ulster lineup: 1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Jeremy Davidson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Andrew Matchett, 10. David Humphreys, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. James Topping, 13. Sheldon Coulter, 14. Neil McCluskey, 15. Robin Morrow. Replacements: John Patterson (for McBride).

26 October 1996 14:30	Neath	15–13	Ulster	The Gnoll
	Try: Williams Gerrard Con: Davies Pen: Davies	Report[14]	Try: Matchett Con: Humphreys Pen: Humphreys (2)	Attendance: 2,000
Ulster lineup: 1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Jeremy Davidson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Andrew Matchett, 10. David Humphreys, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Maurice Field, 13. Mark McCall, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.

2 November 1996 14:30	Ulster	6–17	Brive	Ravenhill
	Pen: Humphreys Drop: Humphreys	Report[15] Highlights	Try: Duboisset Carrat Viars Con: Venditti	Attendance: 3,500 Referee: H. Lewis
Ulster lineup: 1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Jeremy Davidson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Andrew Matchett, 10. David Humphreys, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Maurice Field, 13. Mark McCall, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.

1996–97 IRFU Interprovincial Championship

Main article: IRFU Interprovincial Championship

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	BP	Pts	Status
Munster	3	3	0	0	117	92	-	12	Champions; qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup
Leinster	3	1	0	2	88	92	-	4	Qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup
Ulster	3	1	0	2	81	89	-	4	Qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup
Connacht	3	1	0	2	77	90	-	4	Qualified for 1997–98 European Challenge Cup

Top three teams qualify for next season's Heineken Cup.

21 September 1996	Ulster	25-35	Leinster	Ravenhill
	Try: Ritchie Duncan Topping Con: Laing (2) Pen: Laing (2)	Preview[16] Report[17]	Try: McKenna (2) Jameson Spicer Con: Governey (3) Pen: Governey (3)	Referee: L. Mayne
Ulster lineup: 1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Clem Boyd, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Charlie Simpson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Mark McCall, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.

28 September 1996	Ulster	32-27	Connacht	Ravenhill
	Try: Duncan Laing Topping Con: Laing Pen: Laing (5)	Report[18]	Try: Carey Elwood Con: Elwood Pen: Elwood (5) Drop: Elwood	Referee: B. Smith
Ulster lineup: 1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Clem Boyd, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Alan Robinson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Mark McCall, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.

5 October 1996	Munster	27-24	Ulster	Thomond Park
	Try: Dineen Galwey Con: Begley Pen: Begley (3) Drop: McIvor Keene	Report[19]	Try: Duncan Coulter Con: Laing Pen: Laing (4)	Referee: A. Lewis
Ulster lineup: 1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Clem Boyd, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Alan Robinson, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Sheldon Coulter, 13. Mark McCall, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.

Home attendance

Domestic League					European Cup					Total
League	Fixtures	Average Attendance	Highest	Lowest	League	Fixtures	Average Attendance	Highest	Lowest	Total Attendance	Average Attendance
–	–	–	–	–	1996–97 Heineken Cup	2	5,750	8,000	3,500	11,500	5,750

Representative matches

16 November 1996	Ulster	26-39	Australia	Ravenhill
	Try: Topping Penalty try Con: Laing (2) Pen: Laing (2)	Report[20]	Try: Eales Roff Campese Penalty try Con: Burke Pen: Burke Knox	Referee: K. Macartney
Ulster lineup: 1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Paddy Johns, 6. Stuart Duncan, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Andrew Matchett, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Mark McCall, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Robin Morrow.

Friendlies

24 August 1996	Ulster	17-43	London Irish	Ravenhill
	Try: Ritchie Hillman Field Con: Coulter	Report[21]	Try: Humphreys Newington Flood Woods Bishop (2) Richardson Con: Humphreys (5)

3 September 1996	Ballymena	5-20	Ulster	Eaton Park
	Try: Beattie	Report[22]	Try: Longwell Ritchie Matchett Con: Laing Pen: Laing
Ulster lineup: 1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Charlie Simpson, 5. Gary Longwell, 6. John Patterson, 7. Denis McBride (c), 8. Stephen McKinty, 9. Andrew Matchett, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Sheldon Coulter, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Stan McDowell. Replacement: Tony McWhirter (for McKinty).

6 September 1996	Dungannon	17-47	Ulster	Stevenson Park
	Try: Sandford McCaughey Dunn Con: Blair	Report[23]	Try: McDowell McKinty (2) Topping (2) Longwell McWhirter Con: Laing (6)
Ulster lineup: 1. Richard Mackey, 2. Stephen Ritchie, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. K. Gallagher, 5. Charlie Simpson, 6. John Patterson, 7. Stephen McKinty, 8. Tony McWhirter, 9. Neil Doak, 10. Stuart Laing, 11. Jan Cunningham, 12. Sheldon Coulter, 13. Maurice Field, 14. James Topping, 15. Stan McDowell.