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2003–04 Ulster Rugby Season
The 2003–04 season was Ulster Rugby's ninth under professionalism, and their third under head coach Alan Solomons. They competed in the Heineken Cup, the Celtic League and the inaugural Celtic Cup. Ulster introduced a new logo this season, featuring a red hand surrounded by the outline shapes of two crossed rugby balls in red and black, which remains in use. A proposal to rebrand the team the "Ulster Knights" was discussed, but rejected. The numbers of teams in the Celtic League was reduced from sixteen to twelve in a single league table, with a full home and away schedule increasing each team's fixture list from seven to 22 matches. There would be no playoffs to determine the league's champions, but a knockout competition, the Celtic Cup, was introduced alongside the league. This meant that the Irish provinces could now operate as full-time professional clubs, with provincial players no longer able to play for clubs in the All-Ireland League. Ulster finished second in the t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ravenhill Stadium
Ravenhill Stadium (known as the Kingspan Stadium for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby stadium located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the home of Ulster Rugby. With the opening of a new stand for the 2014 Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens F.C., Saracens on 5 April 2014, the capacity of the stadium is now 18,196. The stadium is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union. History Ravenhill Stadium opened in 1923. It features an ornate arch at the entrance that was erected as a war memorial for those players killed in World War I and World War II. Prior to 1923, both Ulster and Ireland played games at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society grounds in Belfast. Ravenhill has been the annual venue for the Ulster Schools Cup final since 1924, which is traditionally contested on St Patrick's Day. The stadium is traditionally the venue for the Ulster Towns Cup, played on Easter Monday. Ravenhill has hosted 18 international matches, including pool games in both the 1991 Rugby ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tommy Bowe
Thomas John Bowe (born 22 February 1984) is an Irish former rugby union player from County Monaghan, Ireland. He played on the wing for Ulster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. In March 2012, after four years with Ospreys in Swansea, Wales, he returned to Ulster for the 2012/13 season. After his playing career, Bowe has taken up television presenting, and is a host of morning television show ''Ireland AM''. Career Early career A former pupil of The Royal School, Armagh, Bowe was a schoolboy provincial full-back, only converting to wing whilst playing for Ireland U-21s. Bowe played Gaelic football from U10 level with Emyvale, his local GAA club and he also ran for the Glaslough Harriers and represented his local parish Donagh in the All-Ireland Community Games and went to Mosney with the Monaghan Relay team. He represented Monaghan at U16 and Minor level. As well as playing Gaelic football, he also played rugby with Monaghan RFC at underage levels as well as representi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby ( ga, Rugbaí Connachta) is one of the four professional provincial rugby teams from the island of Ireland. Connacht competes in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team represents the IRFU Connacht Branch, which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union throughout the geographical Irish province of Connacht. Connacht plays its home games at the Galway Sportsgrounds, which holds 8,100 spectators. Connacht play in a predominantly green jersey, shorts and socks. The Connacht Rugby crest is a modified version of the provincial flag of Connacht and consists of a dimidiated eagle and an arm wielding a sword. With the province containing just over 8% of the total Irish population, Connacht has a much smaller base of rugby union players to choose from than the other three provinces. This player base is also affected by the relative popularity of Gaelic Athletic Association sports such as hurling ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belfast Harlequins
Belfast Harlequins is a multi-sports club located off the Malone Road in south Belfast, Northern Ireland. The club name provides the overall umbrella for rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey, and squash. The club is associated on and off the field with Methodist College Belfast (MCB). Background of the club Belfast Harlequins was formed in 1999 with the merger of Collegians, North of Ireland Cricket Club and North of Ireland Football Club. The former clubs were three of the oldest and most distinguished clubs in Ireland. "North" sold its famous ground at Ormeau – one of the earliest international rugby venues – to pay for the redevelopment of the Deramore Park facilities. The club uses a version of the Maltese cross that MCB uses as its sports logo, with the colours being those of navy, sky blue, red and maroon. The North colours were traditionally red, blue and black, with Collegians using navy, white and maroon. At two extraordinary general meetings held simultaneously ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dungannon RFC
Dungannon RFC (Dungannon Football Club) is a rugby union club from Dungannon, Northern Ireland, playing in Division 2B of the All-Ireland League. History The 5th Earl of Ranfurly, who was President of Dungannon Football Club for 24 years and Patron for a further 37 years, was Governor of New Zealand from 1897 to 1904. He brought his love of rugby to New Zealand and gave his name to the most prestigious rugby trophy in the Southern Hemisphere, The Ranfurly Shield. The Club played junior rugby for most of the first half of the 20th century before returning to the senior ranks in 1954 under the captaincy of Roy Saunders the Club's first Honorary Life Member. As a result of winning the AIB All Ireland League playoffs in 2000–2001 Dungannon has now won every available domestic competition. The AIB League, The All Ireland Floodlit Cup, The Stevenson Shield (Ulster Senior League), The Ulster Senior Cup (a record five times in the 1990s), The Ulster Towns Cup ( a record eighte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mark McCall
Mark McCall (born 29 November 1967 in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland) is an Irish former rugby union player and current Director of Rugby (DoR) at Saracens. While DoR for Saracens the team has won the English Premiership Rugby competition five times and the European Cup three times. He played 11 times for the Ireland national rugby union team, making his debut against New Zealand on 30 May 1992 as a substitute. Playing career McCall (nicknamed "Smally") played a Five Nations match against Wales in 1994, and came off the bench to play against England in 1996 as well as Australia later that year. He played four times in 1997; against New Zealand, Canada and twice against Italy. He also played against Scotland and England in the 1998 Five Nations, finishing his career later that year with two matches against South Africa. His entire 13-match career went without him scoring a single point internationally. He scored more than 100 points for his club career. He was forced to r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints (officially Northampton Rugby Football Club) is a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. They were formed in 1880 as "Northampton St. James", which gave them the nickname ''Saints'' from the 1880s. The team play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, in the west of the town, which has a capacity of 15,250 and play in black, green, and gold colours. At the conclusion of the 2021–22 Premiership Rugby season, Saints finished 4th which entitled them to compete in the 2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup. The current director of rugby is Phil Dowson, who was promoted to director of rugby in the summer of 2022. Northampton has won six major titles. They were European Champions in 2000 and English Champions in 2014. They have also won the secondary European Rugby Challenge Cup twice, in 2009 and 2014, the Anglo Welsh Cup in 2010, and, most recently, the inaugural Premiershi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
IRUPA
The Rugby Players Ireland is the representative body for professional rugby players in Ireland. Founded in October 2001, its aims are to promote and protect the welfare of professional rugby players in Ireland. The Chief Executive Officer is Simon Keogh and Rob Kearney is its current chairman. Its headquarters are in Clonskeagh in Dublin. Objectives The associations objectives are:- *To promote and protect the welfare of its members, both during and after their careers. *To cater for the educational and welfare needs of its members, to ensure that they have sufficient preparation for the life after rugby. *To work in partnership with the IRFU to further the cause of Rugby Union in Ireland. *To be the representative mouthpiece for professional rugby players on issues of importance to the game. Services Rugby Players Ireland provides a Player Development Manager (PDM). The five pillars of Rugby Players Ireland's Player Development Programme are 1) Education, Training & Skills, 2) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gary Longwell
Gary Longwell (born 30 July 1971 in Belfast) is an Irish international rugby player. His usual position is as a lock, or second row. He spent his entire career playing for Irish provincial side Ulster, making his debut aged 19 in 1991. He was part of the Heineken Cup-winning Ulster team of 1999 in the 21–6 victory over Colomiers at Lansdowne Road in Dublin. In 2015, he was inducted into the Newtownabbey Hall of Fame Provincial career He made 152 caps for his provincial side Ulster, making his debut aged just 19 against English side Cornwall in 1991. He also played an integral role in the Heineken Cup final victory winning Ulster team of 1999 in the 21–6 victory over Colomiers at Lansdowne Road in Dublin. International career Longwell made his debut for the Irish national team on 11 November 2000 in a Test against Japan in Dublin and went on to win 26 caps. He was a part of Ireland's squad at the 2003 Rugby World Cup The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Topping
James “Jimmy” Topping (born 18 December 1974) is an Irish rugby former player and current coach. As a player, he won eight caps for the Ireland national rugby union team between 1996 and 2003, playing on the wing. Topping was born in Belfast and played his club rugby for Ballymena and Ulster. Topping also played sevens for the Ireland national rugby sevens team. He played at the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens and also played several legs on the World Rugby Sevens Series. Since retiring from playing, Topping has been involved in coaching, including Ulster youth rugby, and the Ireland national rugby sevens team The Ireland national rugby sevens team competes in several international rugby sevens competitions. The team is governed by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). Ireland competes as a "core team" on the World Rugby Sevens Series, a competiti .... References Irish rugby union players Ireland international rugby union players Rugby union wings Ulster Rugby ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Steinmetz
Paul Christopher Steinmetz (born 26 January 1977 in Paraparaumu, New Zealand) is a retired professional rugby union footballer. He made one appearance for the All Blacks in 2002. Playing career Provincial Rugby Steinmetz made his debut for Wellington in 1997, but spent most of his first few seasons for the province as a reserve on a deep and talented squad. In 2000, he made 10 appearances including two starts in helping Wellington win the NPC championship. In 2001, he finally solidified a starting position in the Wellington backs, which he held down through the remainder of his time with the province. His final match for Wellington before heading overseas was the 2003 NPC final. Super Rugby Steinmetz made his debut for the Hurricanes in the 2000 Super 12 season, but saw very limited action in his first season. In 2001 he made more of an impression, scoring 3 tries for the Hurricanes, but still found starts difficult to come by. For the 2002, Steinmetz was drafted to the Hig ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Matt Mustchin
Matt Mustchin (born 2 February 1977) is a New Zealand-born former Scotland international rugby union player, who played flanker and lock for Canterbury Crusaders, Ulster and Edinburgh. Born in Christchurch,Jim Stokes, "Ulster sign Canterbury Crusader's back row star Mustchin", ''Belfast Telegraph'', 1 July 2003 he represented New Zealand at under-16, under-19"Mustchin focuses on Scotland" ESPN, 30 October 2008 and under-21 level, and played for Canterbury Crusaders in . He signed for Ulster in 2003, and moved from the back row to the second row. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
