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2000–01 Ulster Rugby season

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Professional provincial Rugby Union playing season

Rugby team
2000–01 Ulster Rugby season
Ground(s)Ravenhill Stadium (Capacity: 12,500)
Coach(es)Harry Williams
Captain(s)David Humphreys
Most appearancesJustin Fitzpatrick, Gary Longwell, Andy Ward, Tony McWhirter, Brad Free, David Humphreys, Ryan Constable, James Topping (12 each)
Top scorerDavid Humphreys (148)
Most triesJames Topping (6)
League(s)Heineken Cup (4th in pool)
IRFU Interprovincial Championship (2nd)
← 1999–2000 2001–02 →

The 2000–01 season was Ulster Rugby's sixth since the advent of professionalism, and their third under coach Harry Williams. They competed in the Heineken Cup and the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. Williams announced in August 2000 that he would leave at the end of the season.

The IRFU rejected a proposal for a Celtic League involving three of the Irish provinces, two Scottish super-districts and seven Welsh clubs, each playing 22 matches. The IRFU argued that the structure proposed would add too many games and leave provincial players unable to play for their clubs, and made a counter-proposal of an eleven-game season, which the Welsh and Scottish unions rejected. Discussions continued, and a format was finally agreed for the following season.

They were bottom of their pool in the Heineken Cup, failing to qualify for the knockout stage. They finished second in the Interprovincial Championship, qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup. The average crowd at Interprovincial matches was 7,000, comparing favourably to 3,000 in the English first division. Tyrone Howe was Ulster's Player of the Year, and was selected for the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.

Player transfers

Players in

Players out

Squad

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.

2000–01 Heineken Cup

Main article: 2000–01 Heineken Cup
Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
Wales Cardiff 6 4 0 2 18 13 5 182 146 36 8
England Saracens 6 4 0 2 14 13 1 174 140 34 8
France Toulouse 6 2 1 3 19 15 4 171 182 −11 5
Ireland Ulster 6 1 1 4 11 21 −10 146 205 −59 3
6 October 2000
19:15 		Ulster Ireland 32 – 23 Wales Cardiff Ravenhill  
Try: Constable
Howe
Con: Humphreys (2)
Pen: Humphreys (5)
Drop: Humphreys
 Report Try: Jenkins
Morgan
Con: Jenkins (2)
Pen: Jenkins (3)
 Attendance: 12,000
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Simon Best,
4. Paddy Johns, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
Derek Topping (for Nelson, 20), Mark Blair (for Johns, 61), Clem Boyd (for Best, 65).

15 October 2000
15:00 		Saracens England 55 – 25 Ireland Ulster Vicarage Road  
Try: Hill (2)
McRae
Luger (3)
Con: Castaignède (5)
Pen: Castaignède (5)
 Report Try: Stewart
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (6)
 Attendance: 11,258
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Simon Best,
4. Paddy Johns, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Derek Topping, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Shane Stewart, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
Mark Blair (for Johns, 40), Chris McCarey (for D. Topping, 68), Sheldon Coulter (for Stewart, 79).

22 October 2000
15:00 		Toulouse France 35 – 35 Ireland Ulster Stadium Municipal  
Try: Pelous
Labit
Fillol
Desbrosse
Con: Marfaing (3)
Pen: Marfaing (3)
 Report Try: Free
Howe
J. Bell
J. Topping
Con: Humphreys (3)
Pen: Humphreys (3)
 Attendance: 14,000
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Simon Best,
4. Gary Longwell, 5. Mark Blair,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Ryan Constable, 13. Jonny Bell, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
Shane Stewart (for Constable, 40), Clem Boyd (for Best, 40), Paul Shields (for Weir, 72).

27 October 2000
19:30 		Ulster Ireland 25 – 29 France Toulouse Ravenhill  
Try: Ward
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (6)
 Report Try: Desbrosse
Servat
Con: Delaigue
Marfaing
Pen: Delaigue (5)
 Attendance: 12,000
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Clem Boyd,
4. Mark Blair, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
Derek Topping (for Russell, 16).

12 January 2001
19:05 		Cardiff Wales 42 – 16 Ireland Ulster Cardiff Arms Park  
Try: Robinson (2)
Jenkins
Quinnell
Con: Jenkins (2)
Pen: Jenkins (5)
Drop: Jenkins
 Report Try: J. Topping (2)
Pen: Humphreys (2)
 Attendance: 10,500
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Clem Boyd,
4. Mark Blair, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Stan McDowell.

19 January 2001
19:30 		Ulster Ireland 13 – 21 England Saracens Ravenhill  
Try: Humphreys
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (2)
 Report Try: Shanklin
McRae
Hill
Con: McRae (3)
 Attendance: 13,500
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Simon Best,
4. Gary Longwell, 5. Paddy Johns,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Ryan Constable, 13. Jonny Bell, 14. James Topping,
15. Stan McDowell.
Replacements:
Niall Malone (for J. Bell, 47), Richard Weir (for Clarke, 48), Stephen Bell (for Free, 48),
Mark Blair (for Longwell, 58), Clem Boyd (for Best, 60), Sheldon Coulter (for McDowell, 80).

2000-01 IRFU Interprovincial Championship

Main article: IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D L F A BP Pts Status
Munster 6 5 1 0 151 99 1 23 Champions; qualified for 2001–02 Heineken Cup
Ulster 6 3 0 3 144 119 3 15 Qualified for 2001–02 Heineken Cup
Leinster 6 2 1 3 109 111 2 12 Qualified for 2001–02 Heineken Cup
Connacht 6 1 0 5 100 175 1 5 Qualified for 2001–02 European Challenge Cup
1 September 2000 Ulster Ulster 16-21 Munster Munster Ravenhill  
Try: Ward
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (3)
 Report Pen: O'Gara (5)
Drop: O'Gara (2)
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Simon Best,
4. Gary Longwell, 5. Paddy Johns,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.

9 September 2000 Connacht Connacht 15-39 Ulster Ulster Galway Sportsgrounds  
Try: Lee
Elwood
Con: Elwood
Pen: Elwood
 Report Try: Nelson
Johns
J. Bell
J. Topping
Stewart
Con: Humphreys (4)
Pen: Humphreys (3)
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Simon Best,
4. Paddy Johns, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
Mark Blair (for Longwell, 60), Shane Stewart (for Henderson, 63), Stephen Bell (for Free, 71), Derek Topping (for Ward, 74)

15 September 2000 Leinster Leinster 19-6 Ulster Ulster Donnybrook  
Try: Hickie
Con: McHugh
Pen: McHugh (2)
Dempsey
 Report Pen: Humphreys (2)
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Simon Best,
4. Paddy Johns, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
Derek Topping (for McWhirter, 40), Shane Stewart (for Henderson, 67), Stephen Bell (for Free, 75).

22 September 2000 Ulster Ulster 26-13 Leinster Leinster Ravenhill  
Try: J. Bell
Ward
Con: Humphreys (2)
Pen: Humphreys (4)
 Report Try: McHugh
Con: McHugh
Drop: O'Driscoll
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Simon Best,
4. Mark Blair, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
Derek Topping (for Nelson, 59), Stephen Bell (for Free, 63), Shane Stewart (for J. Topping, 77).

29 September 2000 Munster Munster 29-21 Ulster Ulster Thomond Park  
Try: Crotty
Horgan
Con: O'Gara (2)
Pen: O'Gara (5)
 Report Try: Free
J. Topping
Con: Humphreys
Pen: Humphreys (3)
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Simon Best,
4. Paddy Johns, 5. Gary Longwell,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Shane Stewart, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
Derek Topping (for McWhirter, 64), Mark Blair (for Johns, 71), Clem Boyd (for Best, 71), Stephen Bell (for Free, 76).

3 November 2000 Ulster Ulster 36-22 Connacht Connacht Ravenhill  
Try: J. Topping
Blair (2)
Humphreys
Ward
Con: Humphreys (4)
Pen: Humphreys
 Report Try: O'Connor
Munn
Schoemann
Con: Munn (2)
Pen: Munn
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Richard Weir, 3. Clem Boyd,
4. Gary Longwell, 5. Mark Blair,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Sheldon Coulter, 12. Shane Stewart, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
Simon Best (for Boyd, 32), Paddy Johns (for Longwell, 40), Paul Shields (for Weir, 50), Derek Topping (for McWhirter, 62), Neil Doak (for Free, 67).

Home attendance

Domestic League European Cup Total
League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance
– – – – – 2000–01 Heineken Cup 3 12,500 13,500 12,000 37,500 12,500

Friendlies

5 August 2000 Ulster Ireland 31-12 England Leicester Tigers Omagh Academicals RFC  
Try: Topping
Malone
Coulter
McWhirter
B. Cunningham
Con: Malone (2)
Humphreys
 Report Try: Howard
Reeves
Con: Meenan
 Referee: Gareth Doyle
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Clem Boyd,
4. Gary Longwell, 5. Mark Blair,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys,
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Shane Stewart, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
Simon Best, Richie Weir, John Campbell, Aidan Kearney, Chris McCarey, Derek Topping,
Stephen Bell, Niall Malone, Sheldon Coulter, Seamus Mallon, Bryn Cunningham.

11 August 2000 Coventry England 0-64 Ireland Ulster Coundon Road Stadium  
Report Try: McWhirter
Stewart
Topping (3)
Penalty try
Humphreys
Coulter
Howe
Con: Humphreys (7)
 Referee: M. Fox
Ulster lineup:

1. Simon Best, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Clem Boyd,
4. Gary Longwell, 5. Mark Blair,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Stephen Bell, 10. David Humphreys,
11. Sheldon Coulter, 12. Shane Stewart, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Bryn Cunningham.
Replacements:
Justin Fitzpatrick (for Best, 45'), Niall Malone (for Cunningham, 56'), Richie Weir (for Clarke, 60'),
John Campbell (for Boyd, 67'), Seamus Mallon (for Humphreys, 70'), Derek Topping (for Nelson, 70').

18 August 2000 Ulster Ireland 37-11 Scotland Edinburgh Reivers Ravenhill  
Try: Free (2)
Stewart (2)
Nelson
Topping
Con: Humphreys (2)
Pen: Humphreys
 Report Try: Tom Weir
Pen: Duncan Hodge (2)
 Attendance: 6,000
Referee: M. Fox
Ulster lineup:

1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Allen Clarke, 3. Clem Boyd,
4. Gary Longwell, 5. Mark Blair,
6. Russell Nelson, 7. Andy Ward, 8. Tony McWhirter,
9. Brad Free, 10. David Humphreys (c),
11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Shane Stewart, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
Richie Weir (for Clarke, 8'), Derek Topping (for Ward, 8-19', for McWhirter, 48'),
Paddy Johns (for Blair, 24-36'), Simon Best (for Fitzpatrick, 69'), Sheldon Coulter (for Howe, 78')

25 August 2000 Ulster Ireland 35-0 England Rugby Lions Ravenhill  
Try: Malone
Sheldon Coulter
Weir
J. Cunningham
Howe
Con: Malone (4)
Humphreys
 Report Referee: D. Napier
Ulster lineup:

1. Simon Best, 2. Richard Weir, 3. John Campbell,
4. Paddy Johns (c), 5. Mark Blair,
6. Chris McCarey, 7. Derek Topping, 8. Russell Nelson,
9. Brad Free, 10. Niall Malone,
11. Sheldon Coulter, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Shane Stewart, 14. Jan Cunningham,
15. Grant Henderson.
Replacements:
James Topping (for J. Cunningham 50'), David Humphreys (for Malone 50'), Clem Boyd (for Campbell 50'), Gary Longwell (for Blair 50'), Andy Ward (for McCarey 50'), Ryan Constable (for J Bell 58'), Tyrone Howe (for Coulter 58'), Justin Fitzpatrick (for Best 58'), Stephen Bell (for Free 67'), Paul Shields (for Weir 72')

Ulster Rugby Awards

The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held on 24 May 2001. Winners were:

References

  1. "Williams to quit as Ulster coach", BBC Sport, 31 August 2000
  2. Tony Ward, "IRFU says no to plans for new Celtic League", Irish Independent, 14 March 2000
  3. Kieran Rooney, "Celtic League looming large in rugby horizon", Irish Independent, 18 August 2000
  4. "Celtic League gets green light to kick off in August", Evening Herald, 31 May 2001
  5. Barry Coughlan, "Doubts remain about benefits of Celtic League", Irish Examiner, 4 October 2000
  6. "Prop Boyd forced to retire", BBC Sport, 4 November 2003
  7. Jim Stokes, "Campbell signed up to replace Veitayaka ", Belfast Telegraph, 10 May 2000
  8. Gavin Mairs, "Retiring Ulster ace gets a big vote of thanks", Belfast Telegraph, 4 July 2008
  9. "The joy of being free of injury", Irish Times, 26 October 2000
  10. "Brad Free to play for Ireland", Irish Independent, 29 October 1997
  11. Richard Bullick, "Ulster sign Springboks", News Letter, 23 June 2000
  12. ^ Jonathan McConnell, "Ulster recruit South Africans", ESPN Scrum, 23 June 2000
  13. Gavin Mortimer, "The ten biggest flops in the Top 14", Rugby World, 18 December 2013
  14. Jim Stokes, "Rugby: Super Ulster right back in business", Belfast Telegraph, 5 July 2008
  15. Ian Malin, "Gallic genius triggers Luger", The Guardian, 16 October 2000
  16. "Saracens too strong for Ulster", BBC Sport, 15 October 2000
  17. "Ulster earn remarkable draw", BBC Sport, 22 October 2000
  18. EPCR Stats
  19. "RUGBY UNION: POOR ULSTER KEPT AT AN ARMS LENGTH; Cardiff 42 Ulster 16: Champions of 1999 are European flops in Cardiff.." The Free Library. 2001 MGN LTD 26 Feb. 2022
  20. Jim Stokes, "Plenty of heart but it's a Sarri send-off", Belfast Telegraph, 20 January 2001
  21. Jim Stokes, "O'Gara steals the show", Belfast Telegraph, 2 September 2000
  22. Kieran Rooney, "Ulster leave Connacht stranded", Sunday Independent, 10 September 2000
  23. "Ace predator Hickie strikes for Leinster", Irish Independent, 16 September 2000
  24. Tony Ward, "Humphreys leads Ulster to victory", Irish Independent, 23 September 2000
  25. Barry Coughlan, "Munster dig deep for great victory", Irish Examiner, 30 September 2000
  26. Jim Stokes, "Classy Ulster sink brave Connacht", Irish Independent, 4 November 2000
  27. Richard Buckley, "Ulster on the Maul", Sunday Life, 6 August 2000
  28. "Coventry find Ulster in try-scoring mood", Belfast Telegraph. 12 August 2000
  29. Richard Bullick, "Ulster 'blitz' sinks minnows", News Letter, 26 August 2000
  30. "Honours for Howe and Longwell", BBC Sport, 25 May 2001
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