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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

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Squad

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Ulster Rugby squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

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

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Main article: 1999–2000 Heineken Cup

Pool 3

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Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
  Llanelli 6 5 0 1 17 8 9 152 86 66 10
  Wasps 6 5 0 1 16 9 7 163 99 64 10
  Bourgoin 6 2 0 4 14 14 0 140 162 −22 4
  Ulster 6 0 0 6 4 20 −16 71 179 −108 0
20 November 1999
19:30 		Bourgoin   26 – 12   Ulster Stade Pierre Rajon  
Try: Balue
Glas
Con: Péclier (2)
Pen: Péclier (4)
 Report[8] Pen: Mason 4
 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   6 – 19   London Wasps Ravenhill  
Pen: Mason (2)
 Report[9] Try: Green
Con: Logan
Pen: Logan (4)
 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   6 – 29   Llanelli Ravenhill  
Pen: Mason (2)
 Report[10] Try: Wyatt
Finua
Con: Jones (2)
Pen: Jones (5)
 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   20 – 3   Ulster Stradey Park  
Try: Wyatt
Davies
Con: Jones (2)
Pen: Jones (2)
 Report[11] Pen: Mason
 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   49 – 17   Ulster Loftus Road  
Try: Logan (2)
Reed
Henderson
King
Shelbourne
Scrace
 Report[12][13] Try: Humphreys
Mason
Con: Mason (2)
Pen: Mason
 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   27 – 36   Bourgoin Ravenhill  
Try: Howe (2)
Con: Mason
Pen: Mason (5)
 Report[14] Try: Boyet
Coux (2)
Glas
Raschi
Drop: Boyet
 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

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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 2000–01 Heineken Cup
6 3 0 3 186 129 3 15 Qualified for 2000–01 Heineken Cup
6 2 0 4 145 137 2 10 Qualified for 2000–01 Heineken Cup
6 0 0 6 85 289 1 1 Qualified for 2000–01 European Challenge Cup
7 August 1999 Connacht   9-50   Ulster Galway Sportsgrounds  
Pen: Elwood (3)
 Report[15] Try: J. Topping
McWhirter
Cunningham
O'Cuinneagain
Howe
Clarke
Con: Mason (3)
Pen: Mason (3)
 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   15-26   Ulster Donnybrook  
Pen: Everitt (5)
 Report[16] Try: Howe
Mason
Con: Mason (2)
Pen: Mason (3)
Drop: Humphreys
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   24-25   Munster Upper Malone  
Try: Bromley
Fredericks
Con: Mason
Pen: Mason (3)
Drop: Humphreys
 Report[17] Try: Mullins (2)
Corkery
Con: O'Gara (2)
Pen: O'Gara (2)
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   36-19   Ulster Musgrave Park  
Try: O'Neill
Mullins
Con: O'Gara
Pen: O'Gara (8)
 Report[18] Try: Topping
Con: Mason
Pen: Mason (4)
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), Lewis Johnston (for Best, 63), Jan Cunningham (for Topping, 72).

5 November 1999 Ulster   44-22   Connacht Ravenhill  
Try: Bromley (2)
Blair
McWhirter
Cunningham
Ward
Con: Mason (4)
Pen: Mason (2)
 Report[19][20] Try: Steffert
Mostyn
Con: Elwood
Pen: Elwood
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   22-23   Leinster Ravenhill  
Try: Bromley
Con: Mason
Pen: Mason (5)
 Report[21] Try: Hickie
Pen: McHugh (6)
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)

Home attendance

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Domestic League European Cup Total
League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance
– – – – – 1999–00 Heineken Cup 3 8,667 12,000 6,000 26,000 8,667

Friendlies

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19 September 1999 Ulster   25-16   Ireland XV Upper Malone  
Try: Howe
Con: Mason
Pen: Mason (3)
 Report[22] Try: Johns
O'Cuinneagain
Mostyn
O'Driscoll
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys
Ulster lineup:

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

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

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g 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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