2002–03 Ulster Rugby season

The 2002–03 season was Ulster Rugby's eighth under professionalism, and their second under head coach Alan Solomons. They competed in the Heineken Cup and the Celtic League. No IRFU Interprovincial Championship was held this season.

2002–03 Ulster Rugby season
Ground(s)Ravenhill Stadium (Capacity: 12,500)
Coach(es)Alan Solomons
Captain(s)Andy Ward
Most appearancesNeil Doak (15)
Top scorerDavid Humphreys (128)
Most triesNeil Doak (3)
Tyrone Howe (3)
Neil McMillan (3)
League(s)Heineken Cup (3rd in pool)
Celtic League (semi-finalists)
← 2001–02 2003–04 →

In the Celtic League, they finished third in Pool A, qualifying for the playoffs. They beat Glasgow in the quarter-finals, but lost to Munster in the semi-finals. In the Heineken Cup, they finished third in Pool 6, missing out on the knockout stage. Bryn Cunningham was Ulster's Player of the Year. Flanker Neil McMillan won the IRUPA Young Player of the Year award.[1]

Staff
Position Name Nationality
Chief Executive Michael Reid  Ireland
Director of Rugby Alan Solomons  South Africa
Team manager John McComish  Ireland
Forwards coach Adrian Kennedy  Ireland
Backs coach Mark McCall  Ireland
Assistant conditioning coach John McCloskey  Ireland
Physiotherapist Gareth Robinson  Ireland
Director of Elite Player Development Allen Clarke  Ireland

Pre-season

Squad
Ulster Rugby squad[9]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

  • James Topping (12 apps, 12 starts, 5 pts)
  • Tyrone Howe (8 apps, 8 starts, 15 pts)
  • Scott Young (8 apps, 5 starts, 5 pts)
  • Sheldon Coulter (8 apps, 5 starts)

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.[9]

    2002–03 Heineken Cup
    Main article: 2002–03 Heineken Cup

    Pool 6
    Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff Pts
    Northampton Saints 6402211011172110628
    Biarritz Olympique 6402145913873658
    Ulster 6402880116106108
    Cardiff 6006626−2078215−1370
    13 October 2002
    16:30    		 Northampton Saints 32 – 9 Ulster Franklin's Gardens  
    Try: Dawson
    Leslie
    Con: Grayson (2)
    Pen: Grayson (5)
    		 Report[10] Pen: Humphreys (2)
    Doak
    		 Attendance: 9,481
    Referee: A. Lambardi
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Robbi Kempson,
    4. Gary Longwell, 5. Mark Blair,
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Tony McWhirter,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. David Humphreys (c),
    11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Shane Stewart, 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Adam Larkin (for Humphreys, 50)

    18 October 2002
    19:05    		 Ulster 25 – 6 Cardiff Ravenhill  
    Try: Young
    Con: Humphreys
    Pen: Humphreys (5)
    Drop: Humphreys
    		 Report[11][12] Pen: Harris (2)
    		 Attendance: 11,000
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Robbi Kempson,
    4. Gary Longwell, 5. Mark Blair,
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Tony McWhirter,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. David Humphreys (c),
    11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Shane Stewart, 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Scott Young (for Howe, 9), Neil Best (for McWhirter, 59), Paul Shields (for Sexton, 65),
    Adam Larkin (for Bell, 75), Kieran Campbell (for Stewart, 79)

    6 December 2002
    19:15    		 Ulster 13 – 9 Biarritz Ravenhill  
    Try: Topping
    Con: Humphreys
    Pen: Humphreys (2)
    		 Report[13][14] Pen: Yachvili (2)
    Drop: Peyrelongue
    		 Attendance: 11,650
    Referee: Chris White
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Robbi Kempson,
    4. Gary Longwell, 5. Jeremy Davidson,
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Andy Ward (c),
    9. Neil Doak, 10. David Humphreys (c),
    11. Scott Young, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Adam Larkin (for Constable, 2), Sheldon Coulter (for Bell, 80)

    14 December 2002
    15:00    		 Biarritz 25 – 20 Ulster Parc des Sports Aquil  
    Try: Isaac
    Couzinet
    Cassin
    Con: Yachvili (2)
    Pen: Yachvili (2)
    		 Report[15][16] Try: J. Cunningham
    Ward
    Con: Doak (2)
    Pen: Doak (2)
    		 Attendance: 8,000
    Referee: D. Pearson
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Robbi Kempson,
    4. Gary Longwell, 5. Jeremy Davidson,
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Andy Ward (c),
    9. Neil Doak, 10. Adam Larkin,
    11. Scott Young, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Jan Cunningham, 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Sheldon Coulter (for Bell, 4), Simon Best (for Fitzpatrick, 61), Paul Shields (for Sexton, 61),
    Mark Blair (for Longwell, 61), Tony McWhirter (for McMillan, 61).

    11 January 2003
    14:45    		 Cardiff 21 – 33 Ulster Cardiff Arms Park  
    Try: Walne, Allen
    Con: Robinson
    Pen: Robinson (3)
    		 Report[17][18] Try: McMillan (2)
    penalty try
    Con: Humphreys (3)
    Pen: Humphreys (2)
    Drop: B. Cunningham
    		 Attendance: 4,000
    Referee: R. Goodcliffe
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Robbi Kempson, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Simon Best,
    4. Gary Longwell, 5. Jeremy Davidson,
    6. Andy Ward (c), 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Tony McWhirter,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. David Humphreys (c),
    11. Sheldon Coulter, 12. Shane Stewart, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Paul Shields (for Sexton), Russell Nelson (for McWhirter).

    17 January 2003
    19:05    		 Ulster 16 – 13 Northampton Saints Ravenhill  
    Try: McMillan
    Con: Humphreys
    Pen: Doak
    Drop: Humphreys (2)
    		 Report[19][20] Try: Cohen
    Con: Grayson
    Pen: Grayson (2)
    		 Attendance: 12,500
    Referee: Joel Dume
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Robbi Kempson, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Simon Best,
    4. Gary Longwell, 5. Jeremy Davidson,
    6. Andy Ward (c), 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Tony McWhirter,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. David Humphreys,
    11. Sheldon Coulter, 12. Shane Stewart, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Justin Fitzpatrick (for Best, 61), Russell Nelson (for McWhirter, 69).

    2002-03 Celtic League
    Main article: 2002–03 Celtic League

    Pool A
    Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
    1 Munster 7601227129+9825124028
    2 Edinburgh 7601231145+8624132127
    3 Ulster 7502173111+621591122
    4 Neath 7403153121+3215121118
    5 Llanelli 7304191168+2323163217
    6 Swansea 7304177212−3518223116
    7 Ebbw Vale 7106140226−861627105
    8 Caerphilly 7007144324−1801742213

    Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:

    • 4 points for a win
    • 2 points for a draw
    • 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus)
    • 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)
    Green background (rows 1 to 4) qualify for the knock-out stage.
    Source: RaboDirect PRO12
    30 August 2002 Ebbw Vale 0 – 19 Ulster Eugene Cross Park  
    19:15 Report[21] Try: Wallace
    Con: Humphreys
    Pen: Humphreys (4)
    		 Referee: Dave Pearson
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Robbi Kempson, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Simon Best,
    4. Gary Longwell, 5. Jeremy Davidson,
    6. Andy Ward (c), 7. Warren Brosnihan, 8. Tony McWhirter,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. David Humphreys,
    11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. Sheldon Coulter,
    15. Paddy Wallace.
    Replacements:
    Mark Blair (for Davidson 30'), Justin Fitzpatrick (for S. Best 67').

    6 September 2002 Ulster 18 – 19 Edinburgh Ravenhill  
    19:30 Pen: Wallace (6)
    		 Report[22] Try: Laney
    Con: Laney
    Pen: Laney (3)
    Drop: Hodge
    		 Attendance: 7,500
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Robbi Kempson, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Simon Best,
    4. Mark Blair, 5. Tony McWhirter,
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Russell Nelson,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. Paddy Wallace,
    11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. Sheldon Coulter,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Justin Fizpatrick (for S. Best 21') Neil Best (for McMillan 21').

    14 September 2002 Swansea 38 – 10 Ulster St Helen's  
    14:30 Try: K. Morgan
    Robinson
    Gibbs
    Payne
    Con: A. Thomas (3)
    Pen: A. Thomas (4)
    		 Report[23] Try: Howe
    Con: Humphreys
    Pen: Humphreys
    		 Attendance: 2,500
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Robbi Kempson,
    4. Mark Blair, 5. Jeremy Davidson,
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Russell Nelson
    9. Neil Doak, 10. David Humphreys,
    11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Adam Larkin, 13. Jonny Bell (c), 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Neil Best (for Brosnihan 39-40'; for Nelson 40'), Paddy Wallace (for Humphreys 55'), Ryan Constable (for Bell 60'),
    Kieran Campbell (for Sexton 60'), Simon Best (for Fitzpatrick 62'), Tony McWhirter (for Davidson 65-78').

    20 September 2002 Ulster 17 – 13 Neath Ravenhill  
    19:30 Try: B. Cunningham
    Howe
    Con: Doak (2)
    Pen: Doak
    		 Report[24] Try: S. Williams
    Con: Jarvis
    Pen: Jarvis (2)
    		 Attendance: 9,500
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Paul Shields, 3. Simon Best,
    4. Mark Blair, 5. Jeremy Davidson (C),
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Tony McWhirter,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. Adam Larkin,
    11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Shane Stewart, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Neil Best (for McWhirter 74'), Jan Cunningham (for Stewart 80').

    27 September 2002 Ulster 26 – 17 Munster Ravenhill  
    19:35 Try: Doak (2)
    Con: Doak (2)
    Pen: Doak (2)
    		 Report[25] Try: Lawler
    Pen: Staunton (2)
    Drop: Staunton
    Holland
    		 Attendance: 6,000
    Referee: P. Adams
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Robbi Kempson,
    4. Mark Blair, 5. Jeremy Davidson (C),
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Tony McWhirter,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. Adam Larkin,
    11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Scott Young (for Topping 34'), Paul Shields (for Sexton 54'), Paddy Johns (for Davidson 58'),
    Shane Stewart (for Bell 74'), Neil Best (for Brosnihan 80').

    5 October 2002 Caerphilly 15 – 67 Ulster Virginia Park  
    14:30 Try: Chiltern (2)
    Con: McLaughlin
    Pen: McLaughlin
    		 Report[26][27] Try: Neil Best (2)
    Howe
    Brosnihan
    McWhirter
    Stewart
    Bell
    Sexton
    Con: Humphreys (6)
    Pen: Humphreys (5)
    		 Attendance: 750
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Robbi Kempson,
    4. Gary Longwell, 5. Jeremy Davidson,
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Tony McWhirter,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. David Humphreys,
    11. Tyrone Howe, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Ryan Constable, 14. Scott Young,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Shane Stewart (for Constable 7'), Neil Best (for Fitzpatrick 50'), Mark Blair (for Longwell 55'),
    Kieran Campbell (for Doak 60'), Paul Shields (for McMillan 32-40', for Sexton 60'), Adam Larkin (for Bell 65').

    25 October 2002 Ulster 16 – 9 Llanelli Ravenhill  
    19:35 Try: Doak
    Con: Humphreys
    Pen: Humphreys
    Drop: Humphreys
    		 Report[28] Pen: Jones (3)
    		 Attendance: 10,500
    Referee: John Hogg
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Robbi Kempson,
    4. Gary Longwell, 5. Mark Blair,
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Tony McWhirter,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. David Humphreys,
    11. Scott Young, 12. Adam Larkin, 13. Shane Stewart, 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Sheldon Coulter (for Topping 39'), Neil Best (for McWhirter 74').

    Quarter final
    30 November 2002 Glasgow 17 – 20 Ulster Hughenden  
    14:45 Try: Steel
    Pen: Hayes (4)
    		 Report[29] Try: Shields
    Ward
    Con: Humphreys (2)
    Pen: Humphreys (2)
    		 Attendance: 5,346
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Robbi Kempson,
    4. Mark Blair, 5. Jeremy Davidson,
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Tony McWhirter,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. David Humphreys,
    11. Scott Young, 12. Jonny Bell, 13. Shane Stewart, 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Paul Shields (for Sexton 25'), Andy Ward (for McWhirter 47'), Ryan Constable (for Stewart 47').

    Semi-final
    3 January 2003 Munster 42 – 10 Ulster Thomond Park  
    19:35 Try: Hayes
    Quinlan
    Kelly
    Mullins
    Galwey
    Con: O'Gara (3), Keane
    Pen: O'Gara (3)
    		 Report[30] Try: Humphreys
    Con: Humphreys
    Pen: Humphreys
    		 Attendance: 12,000
    Referee: H. Watkins
    Ulster lineup:

    1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. Matt Sexton, 3. Robbi Kempson,
    4. Gary Longwell, 5. Jeremy Davidson,
    6. Warren Brosnihan, 7. Neil McMillan, 8. Tony McWhirter,
    9. Neil Doak, 10. David Humphreys (c),
    11. Sheldon Coulter, 12. Adam Larkin, 13. Shane Stewart, 14. James Topping,
    15. Bryn Cunningham.
    Replacements:
    Simon Best (for McMillan 17'), Jan Cunningham (for Larkin 34'), Scott Young (for B. Cunningham 48'),
    Andy Ward (for McWhirter 48'), Paul Shields (for Sexton 65'), Kieran Campbell (for Doak 76').

    Ulster Rugby Awards

    The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Ramada Hotel on 15 May 2003. Winners were:[31]

    References
    1. Kieran Rooney, "Players' Player is Malcolm O'Kelly", Irish Independent, 9 May 2003
    2. "Kempson finally signs", BBC Sport, 25 January 2002
    3. "Spence in Ulster call", BBC Sport, 22 September 2002
    4. "Former Bok retires from rugby", Irish Examiner, 6 September 2002
    5. Brendan Fanning, "New twist for Crick", Irish Independent, 3 March 2002
    6. Tony Ward, "Haslett signs for London Irish", Irish Independent, 19 December 2002
    7. "Paddy Johns Retires as Ulster Name New Squad", Irish Rugby, 26 January 2002
    8. "Brennan joins Toulouse", BBC Sport, 31 May 2002
    9. "Ulster's 2002/3 squad", BBC Sport, 2 July 2002
    10. "Grayson kicks Saints to eighth home win in a row", The Guardian, 14 October 2002
    11. "Ulster too good for Cardiff", BBC Sport, 18 October 2002
    12. Gavin Mairs, "Ulster need a cutting edge", Belfast Telegraph, 19 October 2002
    13. "Topping try keeps Ulster hopes alive", Irish Independent, 7 December 2002
    14. "Ulster upset French champions", BBC Sport, 6 December 2002
    15. Micheal McGeary, "Ulster run out of luck", Sunday Life, 15 December 2002
    16. "Biarritz edge out Ulster", BBC Sport, 14 December 2002
    17. "Ulster edge past Cardiff", BBC Sport, 11 January 2003
    18. Micheal McGeary, "Ulster have it all to do", Sunday Life, 12 January 2002
    19. "Ulster win keeps slim hopes alive", BBC Sport, 17 January 2003
    20. "Victory just not enough for Ulster", Irish Independent, 18 January 2003
    21. "Scrappy victory for Ulster", BBC Sport, 30 August 2002
    22. Gavin Mairs "Last gasp agony for jaded Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 7 September 2002
    23. "Swansea's blistering pace exposes Ulster's deficiencies", Irish Independent, 15 September 2002
    24. "Ulster edge out Neath", BBC Sport, 20 September 2002
    25. "Doak one-man show just too much for Munster", Irish Independent, 28 September 2002
    26. Mark McAuley, "Over and rout... Ulster whip the Welsh boyos", Sunday Life", 6 October 2002
    27. "Ulster hammer Caerphilly", BBC Sport, 5 October 2002
    28. "Ulster sneak past Llanelli", BBC Sport, 25 October 2002
    29. "Ulster hang on for victory", BBC Sport, 30 November 2002
    30. "Fitzpatrick sees red as Munster waltz into final", Irish Independent, 4 January 2003
    31. Gavin Mairs, "Clarke lands Ulster rugby's personality of the year title", Belfast Telegraph, 16 May 2003
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