1997–98 Connacht Rugby season

Last updated
1997–98 Connacht Rugby season
Ground(s) The Sportsground, Galway
Coach(es) Warren Gatland
Top scorer Eric Elwood (112)
Most tries Nigel Carolan (3)
League(s) Challenge Cup (quarter-finals)
IRFU Interprovincial Championship (4th of 4)
← 1996–97 1998–99 →

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.

Contents

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. [1]

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. [2] Each province could have a maximum of 30 contracted players. [3]

Players selected

Connacht Rugby squad

Props

  • IRFU flag.svg Martin Cahill (Bohemians)
  • IRFU flag.svg Michael Finlay (Galwegians)
  • IRFU flag.svg John Maher (Bective Rangers)
  • IRFU flag.svg Ray Ward (Old Belevedere)

Hookers

Locks

  • IRFU flag.svg Graham Heaslip (Galwegians) (c)
  • IRFU flag.svg Mark McConnell (Buccaneers)

Back row

  • Flag of New Zealand.svg Junior Charlie (Galwegians)
  • IRFU flag.svg Barry Gavin (Galwegians)
  • IRFU flag.svg Shane McEntee (Wanderers)
  • IRFU flag.svg Mick O'Neill (Blackrock)
  • IRFU flag.svg Mark Reilly (St Mary's)
  • IRFU flag.svg Rory Rogers (Blackrock)

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

  • Flag of New Zealand.svg Simon Allnutt (Corinthians)
  • IRFU flag.svg Pat Duignan (Galwegians)
  • IRFU flag.svg Mervyn Murphy (Galwegians)
  • IRFU flag.svg Alan Reddan (Lansdowne)

Wings

Fullbacks

(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

    TeamPWDLFABPPtsStatus
    32016146-4Champions; qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup
    32015643-4Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup
    31025965-2Qualified for 1998–99 Heineken Cup
    31024264-2Qualified for 1998–99 European Challenge Cup
    16 August 1997 Connacht Flag of Connacht.svg 9–29 Flag of Munster.svg Munster Galway Sportsgrounds  
    Pen: Elwood (3)
    		Report [4] Try: Halvey
    O'Gara
    Galwey
    Con: O'Gara
    Pen: O'Gara
    Drop: O'Gara
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Martin Cahill,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
    6. Rory Rogers, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Junior Charlie,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. S. Allnutt, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
    15. Willie Ruane.
    Replacements: Bernard Jackman (for Mulcahy), Mick O'Neill (for Rogers), R, Ward (for Cahel).

    23 August 1997 Connacht Flag of Connacht.svg 27-17 Flag of Ulster.svg Ulster Galway Sportsgrounds  
    Try: McEntee
    Murphy
    Charlie
    Con: Elwood (3)
    Pen: Elwood (2)
    		Report [5] Try: McDowell (2)
    Con: Laing (2)
    Pen: Laing
    		Referee: L. Mayne
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
    6. Shane McEntee, 7. Junior Charlie, 8. Barry Gavin,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Pat Duignan, 13. S. Allnutt, 14. Nicky Barry,
    15. Willie Ruane.
    Replacement: Mervyn Murphy (for Allnutt).

    30 August 1997 Leinster Flag of Leinster.svg 23-6 Flag of Connacht.svg Connacht Donnybrook Stadium  
    Try: Ridge
    Con: McGowan
    Pen: McGowan (3)
    		Report [6] Pen: Elwood (2)
    		Referee: D. McHugh
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
    6. Rory Rogers, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Pat Duignan, 13. S. Allnutt, 14. Nicky Barry,
    15. Willie Ruane.
    Replacements: Russell Southam (for Ruane 53'), Bernard Jackman (for Mulcahy 68'), R. Ward (for Maher 79').

    European Challenge Cup

    Pool 4

    TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts
    IRFU flag.svg Connacht 65011113−214497+4710
    Flag of England.svg Northampton Saints 63031713+4161116+456
    Flag of France.svg Bordeaux-Begles 6303106+4112110+26
    Flag of France.svg Nice 61051420−694188−942
    9 September 1997Connacht IRFU flag.svg 43 – 13Northampton Saints The Sports Ground 
    15:00Try: Duignan
    McEntee
    Ruane
    Carolan
    Con: Elwood (3)
    Allnutt
    Pen: Elwood (4)
    Murphy
    		Report [7] Try: Beal
    Con: Hepher
    Pen: Hepher (2)
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Mark McConnell, 5. Graham Heaslip,
    6. Rory Rogers (c), 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
    15. Willie Ruane.
    Replacements: Russell Southam, Simon Allnutt, Martin Cahill, Mark Reilly.

    14 September 1997Nice Flag of France.svg 20 – 16 IRFU flag.svg Connacht Stade du Ray 
    15:00Try: Dasalmartini
    Martin
    Penalty try
    Con: Fausto
    Pen: Fausto
    		Report [8] Try: Duignan
    Con: Elwood
    Pen: Elwood (3)
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
    6. Mark Reilly, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
    15. Willie Ruane.
    Replacements: Ray Ward, Martin Cahill, Mick O'Neill.

    20 September 1997Bordeaux-Begles Flag of France.svg 9 – 15 IRFU flag.svg Connacht Stade Andre Moga 
    20:00Pen: Etchelo (3)
    		Report [9] Pen: Elwood (5)
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
    6. Junior Charlie, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
    15. Willie Ruane.
    Replacements: Ray Ward (for Maher 48'), Martin Cahill (for Finlay 60'), Alan Reddan (for Murphy 72')

    27 September 1997Connacht IRFU flag.svg 28 – 25 Flag of France.svg Nice The Sports Ground 
    15:00Try: Heaslip
    Murphy
    Pen: Elwood (6)
    		Report [10] Try: Gioletti (2)
    Bekkal
    Berdeu
    Con: Deauze
    Drop: Deauze
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
    6. Junior Charlie, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
    15. Willie Ruane.

    4 October 1997Connacht IRFU flag.svg 22 – 15 Flag of France.svg Bordeaux-Begles The Sports Ground 
    15:00Try: Carolan
    Con: Elwood
    Pen: Elwood (5)
    		Report [11] Try: Lemeur
    Ossard
    Con: Berthe
    Pen: Berthe
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
    6. Junior Charlie, 7. Shane McEntee, 8. Barry Gavin,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
    15. Willie Ruane.
    Replacements: Martin Cahill.

    11 October 1997Northampton Saints Flag of England.svg 15 – 20 IRFU flag.svg Connacht Franklin's Gardens 
    15:00Try: Townsend
    Bell
    Con: Townsend
    Pen: Townsend
    		Report [12] Try: Maher
    Charlie
    Carolan
    Con: Elwood
    Pen: Elwood
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
    6. Junior Charlie, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Shane McEntee,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
    15. Willie Ruane.
    Replacements: Mark Reilly, Bernard Jackman.

    Quarter-final

    8 November 1997 Agen Flag of France.svg 40–27 IRFU flag.svg Connacht Stade Armandie  
    20:00Try: Dal Maso
    Loubere(2)
    Benazzi (2)
    Con: Bouic (3)
    Pen: Bouic (3)
    		Report [13] Try: Maher
    Southam
    McGuinness
    Con: Elwood (3)
    Pen: Elwood (2)
    Connacht lineup:

    1. John Maher, 2. Billy Mulcahy, 3. Michael Finlay,
    4. Graham Heaslip, 5. Mark McConnell,
    6. Shane McEntee, 7. Junior Charlie, 8. Barry Gavin,
    9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood,
    11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Pat Duignan, 14. Nicky Barry,
    15. Willie Ruane.
    Replacements: Russell Southam, Bernard Jackman, Martin Cahill, Rory Rogers.

    References

    1. ↑ "Forget the acrimony, Irish rugby owes Warren Gatland a belated 'thanks'". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
    2. ↑ "Seventy six players win IRFU contracts", Irish Independent, 17 July 1997
    3. ↑ Barry Coughlan, "IRFU brings home the message with provincial contracts", Irish Examiner, 1 May 1998
    4. ↑ "Munster romp to victory", Sunday Life, 17 August 1997
    5. ↑ Michael McGeary, "Ulster Shamed in Wild West", Sunday Life, 24 August 1997
    6. ↑ John O'Sullivan, "Leinster snatch it", Sunday Independent, 31 August 1997
    7. ↑ "West awake! Connacht stun England aces", Irish Independent, 10 September 1997
    8. ↑ "Late penalty try blow for battling Connacht", Irish Independent, 15 September 1997
    9. ↑ "Connacht rugby reaches new level with win on French soil", Connacht Sentinel, 23 September 1997
    10. ↑ "Murphy's try sweet music for Connacht", Sunday Independent, 28 September 1997
    11. ↑ Michael Glynn, "Connacht continue to stir up a rugby storm!", Connacht Tribune, 10 October 1997
    12. ↑ Michael Glynn, "Connacht rugby's proudest day!", Sunday Independent, 17 October 1997
    13. ↑ Michael Glynn, "Gatland's troops test might of Agen", Connacht Tribune, 14 November
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