1999–2000 Ulster Rugby season

The 1999–2000 season was Ulster Rugby's fifth season under professionalism, and Harry Williams's second season as head coach. They competed in the Heineken Cup and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship.

1999–2000 Ulster Rugby season
Ground(s)Ravenhill Stadium (Capacity: 12,500)
Coach(es)Harry Williams
Captain(s)David Humphreys
Most appearancesGary Longwell, Eric Miller, Simon Mason (12 each)
Top scorerSimon Mason (145)
Most triesTyrone Howe (4)
Spencer Bromley (4)
League(s)Heineken Cup (4th in pool)
IRFU Interprovincial Championship (2nd)
← 1998–99 2000–01 →

Ahead of the new season, Williams signed Paddy Johns, Simon Best, Niall Malone, Tyrone Howe, Spencer Bromley and Riaz Fredericks to full-time contracts. Mark McCall retired as a player, and was appointed assistant coach.[1]

In the Heineken Cup, Ulster finished bottom of their pool. They came second in the Interprovincial Championship, qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup. Tony McWhirter was Ulster's Player of the Year.

Plans for a Celtic League, featuring the Irish provinces alongside teams from Scotland and Wales, were mooted. This would give the provinces a 12-game league schedule, alongside six Interpros and at least six Heineken Cup matches, and mean contracted players would no longer be available for their All-Ireland League clubs, but play exclusively for their provinces. This plan would not materialise for another few seasons.[2]

Player transfers

Squad
Ulster Rugby squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

  • Ireland Stephen Bell
  • Ireland Mark Edwards
  • Ireland Andrew Matchett

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.

    1999–2000 Heineken Cup
    Main article: 1999–2000 Heineken Cup

    Pool 3
    Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
    Wales Llanelli 65011789152866610
    England Wasps 65011697163996410
    France Bourgoin 620414140140162−224
    Ireland Ulster 6006420−1671179−1080
    20 November 1999
    19:30
    Bourgoin France26 – 12Ireland Ulster
    Try: Balue
    Glas
    Con: Péclier (2)
    Pen: Péclier (4)    		Report[8]Pen: Mason 4
    Stade Pierre Rajon
    Attendance: 7,000
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Joeli Veitayaki, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Gary Longwell, 6. Eric Miller, 7. Dion O'Cuinneagain, 8. Tony McWhirter, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. David Humphreys (c), 11. Spencer Bromley, 12. Niall Malone, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. James Topping, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Simon Best (for Veitayaki), Tyrone Howe (for Malone), Mark Edwards (for Bell), Mark Blair (for Longwell), Derek Topping (for O'Cuinneagain).
    26 November 1999
    19:30
    Ulster Ireland6 – 19England London Wasps
    Pen: Mason (2)Report[9]Try: Green
    Con: Logan
    Pen: Logan (4)
    Ravenhill
    Attendance: 12,000
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Joeli Veitayaki, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Mark Blair, 6. Eric Miller, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. David Humphreys (c), 11. Spencer Bromley, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. James Topping, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Niall Malone (for J. Bell, 39), Derek Topping (for Miller, 40), Tyrone Howe (for Malone, 42), Gary Longwell (for Johns, 78).
    10 December 1999
    19:30
    Ulster Ireland6 – 29Wales Llanelli
    Pen: Mason (2)Report[10]Try: Wyatt
    Finua
    Con: Jones (2)
    Pen: Jones (5)
    Ravenhill
    Attendance: 8,000
    Referee: Steve Lander
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Joeli Veitayaki, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Mark Blair, 6. Eric Miller, 7. Andy Ward 8. Tony McWhirter, 9. Mark Edwards, 10. David Humphreys (c), 11. Spencer Bromley, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. James Topping, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Dion O'Cuinneagain (for McWhirter, 22), Richard Weir (for Clarke, 27), Stephen Bell (for Edwards, 54), Gary Longwell (for Johns, 68), Tyrone Howe (for J. Topping, 77), Niall Malone (for Mason, 78).
    18 December 1999
    14:40
    Llanelli Wales20 – 3Ireland Ulster
    Try: Wyatt
    Davies
    Con: Jones (2)
    Pen: Jones (2)    		Report[11]Pen: Mason
    Stradey Park
    Attendance: 3,000
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Joeli Veitayaki, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Gary Longwell, 6. Dion O'Cuinneagain, 7. Derek Topping 8. Eric Miller, 9. Mark Edwards, 10. Niall Malone, 11. Spencer Bromley, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. Sheldon Coulter, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Simon Best (for Veitayaki), Stephen McKinty (for Miller).
    9 January 2000
    15:00
    London Wasps England49 – 17Ireland Ulster
    Try: Logan (2)
    Reed
    Henderson
    King
    Shelbourne
    Scrace    		Report[12][13]Try: Humphreys
    Mason
    Con: Mason (2)
    Pen: Mason
    Loftus Road
    Attendance: 5,000
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Joeli Veitayaki, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Mark Blair, 6. Dion O'Cuinneagain, 7. Andy Ward 8. Eric Miller, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. David Humphreys (c), 11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Riaz Fredericks, 14. James Topping, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Gary Longwell (for Blair, 78).
    14 January 2000
    19:30
    Ulster Ireland27 – 36France Bourgoin
    Try: Howe (2)
    Con: Mason
    Pen: Mason (5)    		Report[14]Try: Boyet
    Coux (2)
    Glas
    Raschi
    Drop: Boyet
    Ravenhill
    Attendance: 6,000
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Joeli Veitayaki, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Gary Longwell, 6. Dion O'Cuinneagain, 7. Andy Ward 8. Eric Miller, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. David Humphreys (c), 11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Riaz Fredericks, 14. James Topping, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Tony McWhirter (for Miller, 40), Mark Blair (for Ward, 55), Simon Best (for Veitayaki, 68), Jan Cunningham (for J. Topping, 70).

    1999–2000 IRFU Interprovincial Championship
    Main article: IRFU Interprovincial Championship
    1999–00 Munster (21)
    Team P W D L F A BP Pts Status
    6 6 0 0 242 103 5 29 Champions; qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
    6 3 0 3 186 129 3 15 Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
    6 2 0 4 145 137 2 10 Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
    6 0 0 6 85 289 1 1

    Top three teams qualify for next season's Heineken Cup.

    7 August 1999
    Connacht Connacht9-50Ulster Ulster
    Pen: Elwood (3)Report[15]Try: J. Topping
    McWhirter
    Cunningham
    O'Cuinneagain
    Howe
    Clarke
    Con: Mason (3)
    Pen: Mason (3)
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Referee: M. White
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Gary Longwell, 6. Dion O'Cuinneagain, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. David Humphreys (c), 11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. James Topping, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Mark Blair (for Longwell, 59), Eric Miller (for McWhirter, 59), Riaz Fredericks (for Howe, 66), Niall Malone (for Humphreys, 66), Simon Best (for Leslie, 71).
    13 August 1999
    Leinster Leinster15-26Ulster Ulster
    Pen: Everitt (5)Report[16]Try: Howe
    Mason
    Con: Mason (2)
    Pen: Mason (3)
    Drop: Humphreys
    Donnybrook
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Gary Longwell, 6. Dion O'Cuinneagain, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Eric Miller, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. David Humphreys (c), 11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. James Topping, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Tony McWhirter (for Miller, 48), Riaz Fredericks (for Cunningham, 58), Mark Blair (for Longwell, 60), Richard Weir (for Clarke, 83).
    5 September 1999
    Ulster Ulster24-25Munster Munster
    Try: Bromley
    Fredericks
    Con: Mason
    Pen: Mason (3)
    Drop: Humphreys    		Report[17]Try: Mullins (2)
    Corkery
    Con: O'Gara (2)
    Pen: O'Gara (2)
    Upper Malone
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Gary Leslie, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Gary Longwell, 6. Dion O'Cuinneagain, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Eric Miller, 9. Andrew Matchett, 10. David Humphreys (c), 11. Spencer Bromley, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. James Topping, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Richard Weir (for Clarke, 23), Tony McWhirter (for Miller, 55), Mark Blair (for Longwell, 50), Simon Best (for Leslie, 66) Riaz Fredericks (for Cunningham, 71).
    29 October 1999
    Munster Munster36-19Ulster Ulster
    Try: O'Neill
    Mullins
    Con: O'Gara
    Pen: O'Gara (8)    		Report[18]Try: Topping
    Con: Mason
    Pen: Mason (4)
    Musgrave Park
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Simon Best, 4. Mark Blair, 5. Gary Longwell, 6. Dion O'Cuinneagain, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. David Humphreys (c), 11. Spencer Bromley, 12. Riaz Fredericks, 13. Jonny Bell, 14. James Topping, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Paddy Johns (for Blair, 46), Eric Miller (for O'Cuinneagain, 52), L. Johnston (for Best, 63) Jan Cunningham (for Topping, 72)
    5 November 1999
    Ulster Ulster44-22Connacht Connacht
    Try: Bromley (2)
    Blair
    McWhirter
    Cunningham
    Ward
    Con: Mason (4)
    Pen: Mason (2)    		Report[19][20]Try: Steffert
    Mostyn
    Con: Elwood
    Pen: Elwood
    Ravenhill
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Simon Best, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Mark Blair, 6. Eric Miller, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter, 9. Stephen Bell, 10. David Humphreys (c), 11. Spencer Bromley, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. James Topping, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Stephen McKinty (for Miller, 40), Gary Longwell (for Blair, 60), Niall Malone (for Humphreys, 67).
    12 November 1999
    Ulster Ulster22-23Leinster Leinster
    Try: Bromley
    Con: Mason
    Pen: Mason (5)    		Report[21]Try: Hickie
    Pen: McHugh (6)
    Ravenhill
    Ulster lineup
    • 1. Rab Irwin, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Simon Best, 4. Mark Blair, 5. Gary Longwell, 6. Eric Miller, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter, 9. Mark Edwards, 10. David Humphreys (c), 11. Spencer Bromley, 12. Niall Malone, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. Sheldon Coulter, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Gary Leslie (for Irwin, 52), Allen Clarke (for Humphreys, 55), Stephen Bell (for Edwards, 63)

    Friendlies
    19 September 1999
    Ulster Ulster25-16Ireland Ireland XV
    Try: Howe
    Con: Mason
    Pen: Mason (3)    		Report[22]Try: Johns
    O'Cuinneagain
    Mostyn
    O'Driscoll
    Con: Humphreys
    Pen: Humphreys
    Upper Malone
    Lineups
    • Ulster: 1. Gary Leslie, 2. Richie Weir, 3. Simon Best, 4. Gary Longwell, 5. Mark Blair, 6. Stephen McKinty, 7. Derek Topping, 8. Tony McWhirter, 9. Mark Edwards, 10. Niall Malone, 11. Spencer Bromley, 12. Riaz Fredericks, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. Sheldon Coulter, 15. Simon Mason. Replacements: Stephen Ritchie (for Weir, 78'), Rab Irwin (for Leslie, 19') Charlie Simpson (for Blair, 79'), Stuart Duncan (for McKinty, 71'), Andrew Matchett (for Edwards, 66'), Bryn Cunningham (for Malone, 35'), Tyrone Howe (for Coulter, 40').
      Ireland XV: 1. Peter Clohessy, 2. Keith Wood, 3. Paul Wallace, 4. Paddy Johns, 5. Malcolm O'Kelly, 6. David Corkery, 7. Kieron Dawson, 8. Dion O'Cuinnegain, 9. Tom Tierney, 10. David Humphreys, 11. Matt Mostyn, 12. Kevin Maggs, 13. Brian O'Driscoll, 14. Justin Bishop, 15. Conor O'Shea. Replacements: Gordon D'Arcy (for O'Shea, 71'), Jonathan Bell (for O'Driscoll, 68'), Justin Fitzpatrick (for Clohessy, 71), Jeremy Davidson (for O'Kelly, 68'), Eric Miller (for Corkery, 63') Andy Ward (for Dawson, 63')

    Ulster Rugby Awards

    The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held on 18 May 2000 at the La Mon House Hotel. Winners were:[23]

    References
    1. Gerry Thornley, "Ulster bid to continue their roll by recruiting heavily", Irish Times, 31 July 1999
    2. Jim Stokes, "Different League beckons as Irish get set to cash in", Belfast Telegraph, 21 December 1999
    3. Brendan Fanning, "Gatland geared up for bout of double vision", Sunday Independent, 1 August 1999
    4. "Tyrone to hang up his boots", Ulster Rugby, archived 21 December 1995
    5. "Johns departs to play for Ulster", Watford Observer, 20 March 1999
    6. "'He was told he was too small for the Springboks, like me' - Former Ireland captain on Stander", The 42, 13 February 2016
    7. "Fijian linking up with Ulster", ESPN, 27 October 1999
    8. "French make Ulster fry", Sunday Life, 21 November 1999
    9. Jim Stokes, "Now it's uphill all the way", Belfast Telegraph, 27 November 1999
    10. Jim Stokes, "Ulster's Complete Collapse", Belfast Telegraph, 11 December 1999
    11. Micheal McGeary, "Over and out", Sunday Life, 19 December 1999
    12. Jim Stokes, "Ulster's Sprit Returns", Belfast Telegraph, 10 January 2000
    13. Alan Levinson, "Ulster stung by seven-try Wasp attack", Irish Independent, 10 January 2000
    14. Jim Stokes, "Ulster's campaign draws to bitter end", Belfast Telegraph, 15 January 2000
    15. "Ulster go wild out west", Sunday Life, 8 August 1999
    16. Jim Stokes, "Dion to Ulster's rescue", Belfast Telegraph, 14 August 1999
    17. Jim Stokes, "Munster prove to be worthy champs", Belfast Telegraph, 6 September 1999
    18. Jim Stokes, "Ulster punished on Black Friday", Belfast Telegraph, 30 October 1999
    19. Jim Stokes, "Bromley powers Ulster to victory", Belfast Telegraph, 6 November 1999
    20. "Ulster earn Euro Place", Irish Independent, 6 November 1999
    21. "Leinster snatch win to salvage some pride", Irish Examiner, 13 November 1999
    22. Jim Stokes, "Ireland get an Ulster fright", Belfast Telegraph, 20 September 1999
    23. Jim Stokes, "Humphreys is 'Mr Personality'", Belfast Telegraph, 19 May 2000
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