24 December 2003
Declan Fitzpatrick and Neil Hanna will face each other when The Ireland U21 team play Irish Colleges on Sunday, December 28th at 12:30 Hours at Blackrock College.
The teams are as listed below:
15. Andrew Finn - Dolphin
14. Richard Lane – UCC
13. John Hearty – Blackrock College
12. Glen Telford – Dungannon
11. Tommy Bowe – QUB
10. Michael Glancy – Loughborough University
9. Tomas O’Leary –Cork Constitution
1. John Wickham - Clontarf
2. Conor Geoghegan – UCD
3. Declan Fitzpatrick – Belfast Harlequins
4. David Gannon – Blackrock College. Capt.
5. Neil McComb – Dundee HSFP
6. Brendan O’Connor – Cork Constitution
7. David O’Brien – Old Belvedere
8. Jamie Heaslip – Dublin University
Replacements:
Niall Conlon – Dublin University
Keith Doyle – UCD
Oisin Hennessy – Dungannon
Anthony Kavanagh – Garryowen
David Connellan – Buccaneers
Darragh Geraghty – UCD
Breffne O’Donnell – UL Bohemians
Greg Stafford – Lansdowne
Irish Colleges Squad.
Props: Timothy Ryan (Cork Institute of Technology/UCC); Aonnraoi O’Donovan (Cork Institute of Technology/Sundays Well); Anthony Nash (Athlone Institute of Technology/Buccaneers
Hookers: Neil Hanna (University of Ulster @ Jordanstown/Belfast Harlequins); Frankie Leonard (University of Limerick/UL Bohs); John Currins (Cork Institute of Technology/UCC
Locks: Ronan Bulger (Dublin City University/Lansdowne); Gareth Rourke University of Ulster @ Jordanstown/Ballynahinch); Niall Smullen (Athlone Institute of Technology/Buccaneers
Back Row: Gareth Noonan (University of Limerick/Shannon); John Phelan (Waterford Institute of Technology/Waterpark); Brendan Cuttris (Colaiste Stiofain Naofa/Sundays Well); Daragh McDonagh (Limerick Institute of Technology/Old Crescent);
Scrum Halfs: Thomas Campbell (Dundalk Institute of Technology/Dundalk): Rory Carroll (Cork Institute of Technology/Sundays Well).
Out Halfs: Daithi Fitzgerald (Limerick Institute of Technology/Old Belvedere); Conor Quaid (Cork Institute of Technology/UCC).
Centres: Dave Foran (Portabello College/DLSP); William Wallace (Athlone Institute of Technology/Buccaneers).
Wingers: Gary Conway (Waterford Institute of Technology/Waterpark); Paul Hurley (Cork Institute of Technology/UCC); John Cleary (Galway Mayo Institute @ Galway/Galwegians); David O’Donovan (Limerick Institute of Technology/Shannon)
F/Backs: Niall O’Hara (Athlone Institute of Technology/Buccaneers); Cathal Connolly (Dublin Institute of Technology(St Mary’s).
23 December 2003Best & Doak selected for Mini Ireland training camp
Paul Shields, was one of seven Ulster players allowed to miss a Winter training camp in Lanzarote last week because of the Celtic Cup final.
The other six, Simon Best, Gary Longwell, Neil Doak, David Humphreys, Paddy Wallace and Tyrone Howe, ARE included in this mini training camp at Citywest next Tuesday and Wednesday, December 29 and 30.
20 December 2003
SelSelWard praises team effort |
Ulster skipper Andy Ward raises the Celtic Cup | Ulster skipper Andy Ward put his side's inaugural Celtic Cup victory over Edinburgh down to sheer guts.
Ulster held a handsome 21-point first half lead only for Edinburgh to storm back with three converted tries.
But two more second-half penalties by man-of-the-match David Humphreys saw Ulster collect their first trophy since the European Cup wtih a 27-21 win.
Humphreys contributed 17 points with the boot and Neil Best and Rowan Frost scoring tries.
Edinburgh had charged back into contention when Chris Paterson converted tries from Simon Webster, Derrick Lee and Mike Blair.
But Ward said that the stout rearguard effort during Edinburgh's second-half fightback was the key to success.
''It's a fantastic result, and a real gutsy performance in the second half,'' said the 33-year-old veteran.
''We've been in the dark for a while now. We've battled away for a couple of years, and it's just monumental to get some more silverware in the cupboard.
''It's a great day for the Ulster players who have worked so hard. But it's a special day for the Ulster fans who made the trip. We just love them to bits,'' said Ward who said that there were some nervous moments.
''We started to fall off our game a bit in the second half. We lost our integrity and our defensive line.''
Ulster coach Alan Solomons also paid respect to his players and how they held out in the second half.
''It was an absolutely fantastic result,'' said the former Springbok assistant. ''The players showed a lot of resilience against a very good Edinburgh side.
''They played superbly in the second half, but we just stuck to our task and came away with a great win.
''I am chuffed for the players, the supporters, and indeed for the whole province. It's a wonderful achievement.
''This is a fantastic day for me too. To win a tournament is always good, and I am just delighted to be part of the success.
''But it was a very nervous last five minutes. For me to say otherwise would be a total lie.
''The game could have gone either way, and it went right down to the wire. It was very exciting and it is a tribute to Edinburgh. But I'm just glad we came out on the right side of it.
''Conditions were foul, but that is expected at this time in the United Kingdom. But at least all Ulstermen are very happy.''
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 The effort was immense - but we were always playing catch-up |
Frustrated Edinburgh skipper Todd Blackadder claimed his team blew their chances - by trying to play too much rugby.
The former All Blacks captain admitted that Ulster had "come up with the clever game" in wretched conditions at Murrayfield.
"Our first half was the worst 40 minutes we have had all season and it is a huge shame it happened on the big day.
"We put ourselves under pressure by trying to do too much, too quickly in weather that didn't suit. The result was silly mistakes which gave them scoring opportunities.
"All credit to Ulster because they were clever in the way they wanted to play. But I was proud of the way the guys responded after the interval.
''The effort was immense - but we were always playing catch-up and there was just too much to do." | 12 December 2003
Ulster comeback stuns Stade (Report courtesy of BBC)
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Ulster 22-20 Stade Francais
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HEINEKEN CUP POOL 1
Ulster 22
Try: Wallace
Con: Humphreys
Pens: Humphreys 5
Stade Francais 20
Try: Bergamasco
Pens: Dominguez 4
Drop: Liebenberg |
Ulster handed Stade Francais their third Heineken Cup defeat on Belfast soil in five years after a final-quarter comeback kept their qualification hopes alive.
A try from replacement full-back Paddy Wallace with 16 minutes left and 17 points from Ireland stand-off David Humphreys guided them to victory.
The Celtic League leaders trailed 11-9 at half-time and 17-12 after an hour.
But after an opening defeat to the Gwent Dragons, Ulster avoided a costly second loss with Humphreys' fifth penalty and conversion of Wallace's try.
In heavy drizzle, Humphreys and Diego Dominguez exchanged early penalties before the Irish veteran punished a mistake from full-back Ignacio Corletto to give Ulster a 6-3 lead.
But a lazy Dominguez strike from 28 metres drifted over in the 18th minute to level the scores.
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Everyone is devastated. We gave them back the impetus
| Unbeaten in their previous seven Heineken Cup games at Ravenhill, Ulster put that record at risk when they gifted a try to Stade wing Mirco Bergamasco.
Full-back Bryn Cunningham turned over ball 10 metres from his own line and the visitors capitalised on a three-to-one overlap to put the Italian international over in the corner.
Dominguez missed the conversion, and but for ill discipline, Stade would have been further ahead.
But solid defence from Ulster, including an injury-time line-out steal from lock Rowan Frost near their line, saw them just two points down at the break after a third Humphreys penalty.
The stand-off cancelled out an opportunist Brian Liebenburg drop goal four minutes into the second half with another penalty in the 50th minute.
Ulster missed a scoring chance when Shane Stewart's poor offload to Tyrone Howe caused the wing to spill the ball forward inside the Stade 22.
But a fifth success from Humphreys' right boot, following another Dominguez penalty, reduced the deficit to 15-17.
Ulster seized the upper hand when Wallace powered through the Stade cover from just outside the 22 to score with 16 minutes left.
Humphreys converted, and although Dominguez replied with his fourth penalty after 76 minutes, Ulster hung on for a vital victory.
Ulster: B Cunningham; J Topping, S Stewart, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; R Kempson, M Sexton, S Best, R Frost, G Longwell, A Ward (capt), N Best, R Wilson.
Replacements: P Shields, R Moore, M Mustchin, T McWhirter, K Campbell, A Larkin, P Wallace.
Stade Francais: I Corletto; T Lombard, J Hernandez, B Liebenburg, Mirco Bergamasco; D Dominguez, A Pichot; S Marconnet, B August, P de Villiers, D Auradou, capt, A Marchois, C Moni, P Rabadan, Mauro Bergamasco.
Replacements: M Blin, P Lemoine, J Bado, R Jechoux, R Poulain, D Skrela, I Vass
Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales). | 11 December 2003Lansdowne Road - IRFU Announce new stadium plansIRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne and Union representatives that included Noel Murphy met sports minister John O'Donoghue yesterday to present their plans for a new stadium. That plan is to demolish Lansdowne Road and rebuild it as a 50,000 capacity stadium to accommodate rugby and soccer.
The present structure would have to be demolished and the the new stadium would run from north to south as it does at the moment. The east and west stands would go but both Lansdowne and Wanderers rugby clubs, who are co-tenants, would still be accommodated on the oldest international ground in the world.
It is expected that the total cost would be in the region of €250 million. According to the plans the new stadium would be a bowl-shaped stadium, based on the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield, England. The stands would be rebuilt and those on the north and south sides of the ground would be single tier structures, thereby not causing any nuisance to local residents. It would be a environmentally-friendly stadium which would take about two years to complete.
8 December 2003:BBC ULSTER RUGBY TEXT CLUBBBC Northern Ireland has set up a new Text Club specially for Ulster Rugby fans.
By simply sending the word 'Rugby' by text to 07786 203203 you can join the club and receive free text messages each week throughout the rest of the season from BBC Sport. For more details check out
www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/club/index.shtml
7 December 2003:Heineken Cup first round results in full
Llanelli Scarlets 14 Northampton Saints 9
Celtic Warriors 34 Calvasano 25
Stade Francais 26 Leicester Tigers 15
Sale Sharks 26 Cardiff Blues 24
Agen 27 Borders 8
Bourgoin 17 Munster 18
Benetton Treviso 12 Gloucester 33
The Dragons 24 Ulster 15
Edinburgh Rugby 23 Toulouse 16
London Wasps 23 Perpignan 7
Leinster Lions 32 Biarritz Olympique 6
Leeds Tykes 29 Ospreys 20
6 December 2003:AIL LEAGUE DIVISION 1 RESULTS
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UCD 5 |
DUNGANNON 10 |
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GARRYOWEN 15 |
SHANNON 28 |
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GALWEGIANS 24 |
LANSDOWNE 24 |
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DOLPHIN 9 |
CORK CON 11 |
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CO CARLOW 16 |
BALLYMENA 26 |
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BLACKROCK 13 |
BUCCANEERS 19 |
3 December 2003:
Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup
Semi- Final Saturday 13th December 2003 |
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