Ulster Rugby/1996-1997

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Ulster's second season under professionalism, competing in the Irish Interprovincial Championship and the second Heineken Cup. In August 1996 they appointed their first paid coach, Tony Russ. He left in April 1997, replaced by Clive Griffiths.

Results
Interpros: 3rd (3 games, 1 win, 2 losses)

Heineken Cup Pool 3, 4th of 5


 * Interprovincial Championship 21/9/96 Ulster 25-35 Leinster
 * Interprovincial Championship 28/9/96 Ulster 32-27 Connacht
 * Interprovincial Championship 5/10/96 Munster 27-24 Ulster
 * Heineken Cup 13/10/96 Caledonia 34-41 Ulster
 * Heineken Cup 16/10/96 Ulster 15-21 Harlequins
 * Heineken Cup 26/10/96 Neath 15-13 Ulster
 * Heineken Cup 2/11/96 Ulster 6-17 Brive

Squad

 * Loosehead prop: Richard Mackey (7 starts)
 * Hooker: Stephen Ritchie (7 starts)
 * Tighthead prop: Gary Leslie (4 starts), C. Boyd (3 starts)
 * Second row: Jeremy Davison (4 starts), Gary Longwell (4 starts), Paddy Johns (3 starts), Alan Robinson (2 starts), C. Simpson (1 start)
 * Blindside flanker: Stuart Duncan (7 starts)
 * Openside flanker: Stephen McKinty (7 starts)
 * Number 8: Denis McBride (7 starts)
 * Scrum-half: Stephen Bell (4 starts), Andrew Matchett (3 starts)
 * Out-half: David Humphreys (4 starts), Stuart Laing (3 starts, 1 sub)
 * Left wing: Jan Cunningham (7 starts)
 * Inside centre: Mark McCall (5 starts), Sheldon Coulter (2 starts)
 * Outside centre: Maurice Field (5 starts), Sheldon Coulter (1 start) James Topping (1 start)
 * Right wing: James Topping (6 starts), Neil McCluskey (1 start)
 * Fullback: Robin Morrow (7 starts)

Top scorers:
 * David Humphreys 52 (2 tries, 3 conversions, 3 drop goals, 9 penalties)
 * Stuart Laint 49 (1 try, 4 conversions, 12 penalties)
 * Stuart Duncan 15 (3 tries)
 * James Topping 10 (2 tries)