1996–97 Connacht Rugby season

Last updated
1996–97 Connacht Rugby season
Ground(s) The Sportsground, Galway
Coach(es) Warren Gatland
Captain(s)Kevin Devlin
Top scorer Eric Elwood (128)
Most triesBrian Carey (4)
League(s) Challenge Cup (4th in pool)
IRFU Interprovincial Championship (4th of 4)
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

The 1996-97 season was Connacht's second season under professionalism. Warren Gatland was in his first season as head coach, appointed in August 1996 following the resignation of Eddie O'Sullivan. [1] They competed in the inaugural European Challenge Cup (then known as the European Conference) and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, embarked on a two-match tour of Sweden, and hosted Australia.

Contents

At this stage the Irish provinces were still representative teams, not professional clubs. However, the provinces 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]

Players selected

Connacht Rugby squad

Props

  • IRFU flag.svg Tom Clancy (St Mary's)
  • IRFU flag.svg D. Coon (Wanderers)
  • IRFU flag.svg D. Ennis (Skerries)
  • IRFU flag.svg Michael Finlay (Wanderers)
  • IRFU flag.svg Gareth Halpin (St Mary's)
  • IRFU flag.svg John Maher (Buccaneers)
  • IRFU flag.svg R. Ward (Old Belvedere)

Hookers

  • IRFU flag.svg Barry Browne (St Mary's)
  • IRFU flag.svg Billy Mulcahy (Skerries)

Locks

  • IRFU flag.svg Graham Heaslip (Galwegians)
  • IRFU flag.svg Shane Leahy (Lansdowne)
  • IRFU flag.svg Mick O'Neill (Blackrock)

Back row

  • IRFU flag.svg Ronnie Culliton (Wanderers)
  • IRFU flag.svg Kevin Devlin (St. Marys) (c)
  • IRFU flag.svg Barry Gavin (Galwegians)
  • IRFU flag.svg Mark Reilly (Oxford University)
  • IRFU flag.svg Rory Rogers (Blackrock)
  • IRFU flag.svg Neil Taylor (Galwegians)

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

  • IRFU flag.svg Nicky Barry (Clontarf)
  • IRFU flag.svg Mervyn Murphy (Galwegians)
  • IRFU flag.svg Alan Reddan (Lansdowne)

Wings

  • IRFU flag.svg David Beggy (Blackrock)
  • IRFU flag.svg Nigel Carolan (Corinthians)
  • IRFU flag.svg Michael Devine (Buccaneers)
  • IRFU flag.svg Dermot Finnegan (Wanderers)
  • IRFU flag.svg Mick Kearin (Lansdowne)

Fullbacks

  • IRFU flag.svg Brian Carey (Blackrock)
  • IRFU flag.svg Owen Cobbe (Wanderers)
(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.

    Tour

    3 September 1996 Sweden Flag of Sweden.svg 7-47 Flag of Connacht.svg Connacht Stockholm 
    Try: Alexsson
    Con: Njuru
    		Report [3] Try: Cobbe
    Elwood
    Mulcahy
    Devine
    Heaslip
    Finnegan
    Con: Elwood (2)
    Pen: Elwood (3)
    Connacht lineup:

    1. Tom Clancy, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. R. Ward,
    4. Mick O'Neill, 5. Graham Heaslip,
    6. Rory Rogers, 7. Mark Reilly, 8. Kevin Devlin (c),
    9. Diarmuid Reddan, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Dermot Finnegan, 12. Nicky Barry, 13. Alan Reddan, 14. Michael Devine,
    15. Owen Cobbe.
    Replacements: B. Gavin (for Reilly 36'), Nigel Carolan (for Barry 68'), D. Ennis (for Clancy 72').

    6 September 1996 Stockholm Exiles Flag of Sweden.svg 12-65 Flag of Connacht.svg Connacht Stockholm 
    Report [4] Try: Carey (2)
    Kearin (2)
    A. Reddan
    Gavin
    Beggy
    Taylor
    Finnegan
    Heaslip
    Con: Cobbe (6)
    Pen: Cobbe
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Barry Browne, 3. D. Coon,
    4. Mick O'Neill, 5. Shane Leahy,
    6. Neil Taylor, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Kevin Devlin (c),
    9. Coor McGuinness, 10. Owen Cobbe,
    11. David Beggy, 12. Alan Reddan, 13. Nigel Carolan, 14. Mick Kearin,
    15. Brian Carey.
    Replacements: Gareth Heaslip (for O'Neill), D. Ennis (for Maher), Dermot Finnegan (for Beggy).

    IRFU Interprovincial Championship

    TeamPWDLFABPPtsStatus
    330011792-6Champions; qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup
    31028892-2Qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup
    31028189-2Qualified for 1997–98 Heineken Cup
    31027790-2Qualified for 1997–98 European Challenge Cup
    21 September 1996 Munster Flag of Munster.svg 45–28 Flag of Connacht.svg Connacht Temple Hill  
    Try: Lacey (2)
    Foley
    McCahill
    Walsh
    Con: O'Halloran (4)
    Pen: O'Halloran (3)
    Drop: O'Halloran
    		Report [5] [6] Try: A. Reddan
    Devine (2)
    Con: Elwood (2)
    Pen: Elwood (3)
    		Referee: A. Watson
    Connacht:

    1. John Maher (Old Belvedere), 2. Billy Mulcahy (Skerries), 3. R. Ward (Old Belvedere),
    4. Graham Heaslip (Galwegians), 5. Mick O'Neill (Blackrock),
    6. Rory Rogers (Blackrock), 7. Barry Gavin (Galwegians), 8. Kevin Devlin (St. Mary's, c),
    9. Conor McGuinness (St. Mary's), 10. Eric Elwood (Lansdowne),
    11. Dermot Finnegan (Wanderers), 12. Nicky Barry (Clontarf), 13. Alan Reddan (Lansdowne), 14. Michael Devine (Buccaneers),
    15. Brian Carey (Blackrock).
    Replacements: Nigel Carolan (Corinthians, for Barry), Diarmuid Reddan (Galwegians, for Carey).

    28 September 1996 Ulster Flag of Ulster.svg 32-27 Flag of Connacht.svg Connacht Ravenhill  
    Try: Duncan
    Laing
    Topping
    Con: Laing
    Pen: Laing (5)
    		Report [7] Try: Carey
    Elwood
    Con: Elwood
    Pen: Elwood (5)
    Drop: Elwood
    		Referee: B. Smith
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. R. Ward,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Shane Leahy,
    6. Rory Rogers, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Kevin Devlin (c),
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Dermot Finnegan, 12. Nigel Carolan, 13. Alan Reddan, 14. Michael Devine,
    15. Brian Carey.

    5 October 1996 Connacht Flag of Connacht.svg 22-13 Flag of Leinster.svg Leinster Galway Sportsgrounds  
    Try: Leahy
    Elwood
    Pen: Elwood (3)
    		Report [8] Try: Francis
    Con: Governey
    Pen: Governey (2)
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. R. Ward,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Shane Leahy,
    6. Rory Rogers, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Kevin Devlin (c),
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Mick Kearin, 12. Nigel Carolan, 13. Alan Reddan, 14. Michael Devine,
    15. Brian Carey.

    European Challenge Cup

    Pool 3

    TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts
    Flag of England.svg Northampton Saints 55002812+1620788+11910
    Flag of France.svg Toulon 54012210+12164102+628
    Flag of England.svg Orrell 52031822−4122173−514
    IRFU flag.svg Connacht 5203917−894131−374
    Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dunvant 51041522−7106169−632
    Flag of Italy.svg Petrarca 51041019−9118148−302
    Source : www.ercrugby.com Archived 2013-08-20 at archive.today
    Points breakdown:
    *2 points for a win
    *1 point for a draw
    12 October 1996 Connacht IRFU flag.svg 34–12 Flag of Italy.svg Petrarca The Sportsground  
    Try: Leahy
    Mulcahy
    Barry
    Con: Elwood (2)
    Pen: Elwood (5)
    		 [9] [10] Pen: De Marco (4)
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Shane Leahy,
    6. Rory Rogers, 7. Kevin Devlin (c), 8. Barry Gavin,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10 Eric Elwood,
    11. Mick Kearin, 12. Nicky Barry, 13. Alan Reddan, 14. Michael Devine,
    15. Brian Carey.
    Replacement: Diarmuid Reddan.

    16 October 1996 Dunvant Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 26–9 IRFU flag.svg Connacht Broadacre, Dunvant  
    Try: Spender
    Evans
    Con: Thomas (2)
    Pen: Thomas (4)
    Cards: Spender Yellow card.svg    		Report [11] Pen: Elwood (3)
    Cards: Shane Leahy Yellow card.svg
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Shane Leahy,
    6. Rory Rogers, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Kevin Devlin (c),
    9. Diarmuid Reddan, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Mick Kearin, 12. Nicky Barry, 13. Alan Reddan, 14. Michael Devine,
    15. Brian Carey.
    Replacements: Mick O'Neill (for Leahy 43')

    19 October 1996 Connacht IRFU flag.svg 11–31 Flag of England.svg Northampton Saints The Sportsground  
    Try: Carey
    Pen: Elwood
    Carey
    		Report [12] Try: Beal (2)
    Grayson
    Dawson
    Townsend
    Con: Grayson (3)
    Connacht lineup:

    1. Tom Clancy, 2. Barry Browne, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Shane Leahy,
    6. Mark Reilly, 7. Rory Rogers (c), 8. Barry Gavin,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Mick Kearin, 12. Alan Reddan, 13. Nicky Barry, 14. Michael Devine,
    15. Brian Carey.
    Replacement: Kevin Devlin (for Rogers 23'), Ronnie Culliton (for Gavin 3')

    27 October 1996 Toulon Flag of France.svg 44–10 IRFU flag.svg Connacht Stade Mayol  
    Try: Teisseire (2)
    Durand (4)
    Mignoni
    Con: Teisseire (3)
    Pen: Teisseire
    		Report Try: A. Reddan
    Con: Cobbe
    Pen: Cobbe
    Connacht lineup:

    1. Tom Clancy, 2. Billy Mulcahy, Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Shane Leahy,
    6. Neil Taylor, 7. Kevin Devlin (c), 8. Mark Reilly, 9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Owen Cobbe,
    11. Mick Kearin, 12. Nicky Barry, 13. Alan Reddan, 14. Michael Devine,
    15. Brian Carey.
    Replacements: Gareth Halpin, Nigel Carolan, Barry Browne, Mick O'Neill

    2 November 1996 Connacht IRFU flag.svg 30–18 Flag of England.svg Orrell The Sportsground  
    Try: Kearin
    Heaslip
    Penalty try
    Con: Elwood (3)
    Pen: Elwood (3)
    		 [13] Try: Smith (2)
    Turner
    Pen: Hitchmough
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Barry Browne, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Ronnie Culliton,
    6. Shane Leahy, 7. Rory Rogers, 8. Barry Gavin,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Nicky Barry, 13. Alan Reddan, 14. Mick Kearin,
    15. Owen Cobbe.

    Representative

    13 November 1996 Connacht Flag of Connacht.svg 20-37 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Galway Sportsgrounds  
    Try: Leahy
    Pen: Elwood (5)
    		Report [14] Try: Gavin
    Gregan (2)
    Finegan
    Murdoch
    Con: Wallace (3)
    Pen: Wallace (2)
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    2. Graham Heaslip, 5. Shane Leahy,
    6. Neil Taylor, 7. Barry Gavin, Rory Rogers (c) 9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Nicky Barry, 13. Alan Reddan, 14. Mick Kearin,
    15. Brian Carey.
    Replacements: Mark Reilly (for Taylor 53'), R. Ward (for Maher 62'), Mervyn Murphy (for Barry 76')

    References

    1. ↑ Kieran Rooney, "Gatland gets Connacht post", Irish Independent, 31 August 1996
    2. ↑ "Reid's cautionary note on contracts", Belfast Telegraph, 23 March 1996
    3. ↑ "Elwood puts the Swedes on rack", Irish Independent, 4 September 1996
    4. ↑ "Connacht in ten-try spree", Irish Independent, 7 September 1996
    5. ↑ "Munster 45-28 Connacht". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
    6. ↑ Kieran Rooney, "O'Halloran in superb form for Munster", Sunday Independent, 22 September 1996
    7. ↑ Sean Diffley, "Connacht falter with the winning post in sight", Sunday Independent, 29 September 1996
    8. ↑ "Eric makes it 'ell for Leinster", Sunday Life, 6 October 1996
    9. ↑ "Connacht start Euro campaign with win", Sunday World, 13 October 1996
    10. ↑ Ian O'Doherty, "Connacht victory flatters to deceive", Sunday Tribune, 13 October 1996
    11. ↑ "Late tries finish off Connacht", Irish Independent, 17 October 1996
    12. ↑ Gerry Doherty, "Connacht held as Northampton finally get combination right", Sunday Tribune, 20 October 1996
    13. ↑ "Elwood leads the way as Connacht hit top form", Sunday Independent. 3 November 1996
    14. ↑ Kieran Rooney, "Australia rule the west", Irish Independent, 14 November 1996
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.