The 2003–04 season was Ulster Rugby's ninth under professionalism, and their third under head coach Alan Solomons. They competed in the Heineken Cup, the Celtic League and the inaugural Celtic Cup.
Ulster introduced a new logo this season, featuring a red hand surrounded by the outline shapes of two crossed rugby balls in red and black, which remains in use. A proposal to rebrand the team the "Ulster Knights" was discussed, but rejected.Gavin Mairs, "It's good Knight to a new name for Ulster", Belfast Telegraph, 27 January 2004
The numbers of teams in the Celtic League was reduced from sixteen to twelve in a single league table, with a full home and away schedule increasing each team's fixture list from seven to 22 matches. There would be no playoffs to determine the league's champions, but a knockout competition, the Celtic Cup, was introduced alongside the league."New format boost for Celtic League", Irish Independent, 7 May 2003 This meant that the Irish provinces could now operate as full-time professional clubs, with provincial players no longer able to play for clubs in the All-Ireland League.[Jimmy Davidson, "Club Ulster is perfect route to success for Solomons", Belfast Telegraph, 9 May 2003 Ulster finished second in the table. Tyrone Howe was the league's joint third leading try scorer with nine.Statzone, Pro12 Rugby, retrieved 2 June 2022 In the Heineken Cup, they came third in Pool 1, not qualifying for the knockout stage. They won the Celtic Cup, defeating Edinburgh in the final.
Making their debuts for the province this season were props Bryan Young and Simon Shawe, lock Tim Barker, back row forward Roger Wilson, scrum-half Reece Spee, wing Tommy Bowe and centre Seamus Mallon. New signings were props Ronan McCormack and Rod Moore, locks Rowan Frost and Matt Mustchin, and centre Paul Steinmetz.
James Topping became only the second player, after Gary Longwell, to make 100 appearances for Ulster.Gavin Mairs, "Topping in line to hit Ulster century", Belfast Telegraph, 31 Match 2004 Tommy Bowe was named IRUPA Young Player of the Year."Tommy Bowe - IRUPA Young Player of the Year", Ulster Rugby, 20 May 2004, archived 5 June 2004 Roger Wilson was Ulster's Player of the Year.
Head coach Alan Solomons and forwards coach Adrian Kennedy left at the end of the season to join Northampton Saints."Solomons Leaving Ulster", Irish Rugby, 16 February 2004 Backs coach Mark McCall was named as the new head coach."McCall gets call to coach Ulster", The Irish Times, 23 March 2004
Staff Position Name Nationality Chief Executive Michael Reid Director of Rugby Alan Solomons Team manager John McComish Forwards coach Adrian Kennedy Backs coach Mark McCall Assistant conditioning coach John McCloskey Physiotherapist Gareth Robinson
Squad Senior squad
Players in Tim Barker from DungannonGavin Mairs, "Rugby: New faces on show as Ulster slip into gear", Belfast Telegraph, 4 July 2008 Tommy Bowe from Belfast Harlequins Rowan Frost from Connacht"Ulster sign Connacht duo", BBC Sport, 23 April 2003 Seamus Mallon from Dungannon Andy Maxwell from Ballymena Ronan McCormack from Connacht Rod Moore from Waratahs"Moore signs for Ulster", BBC Sport, 30 August 2003 Matt Mustchin from Canterbury Crusaders Simon Shawe from Belfast Harlequins Reece Spee from City of Derry"Spee moves to Harlequins", BBC Sport, 4 June 2003 Paul Steinmetz from Otago Highlanders"Steinmetz heading for Ulster", BBC Sport, 8 July 2003 Roger Wilson from Belfast Harlequins Bryan Young from BallymenaRichard Mulligan, "Solly: Young will do job", News Letter, 26 September 2003
Players out Mark Blair to Narbonne"Blair to quit Ulster", RTÉ, 10 April 2003 Sheldon Coulter released Jan Cunningham released Jeremy Davidson retiredJim Stokes, "Davidson forced to retire", BBC Sport, 2 May 2003 Justin Fitzpatrick to CastresBarry Coughlan, "Castres deal lures Fitzpatrick from Ulster", Irish Examiner, 4 April 2003 Russell Nelson to Padova"AIL Finals Previews", The Irish Times, 10 May 2003 David Spence released
Ulster Rugby squadProps Rod Moore (27 apps, 21 starts) Simon Best (17 apps, 14 starts, 10 pts) Robbi Kempson (13 apps, 12 starts) Ronan McCormack (15 apps, 9 starts, 5 pts) Bryan Young (10 apps, 6 starts) Simon Shawe (2 apps) Clem Boyd
Hookers Matt Sexton (25 apps, 20 starts, 10 pts) Paul Shields (26 apps, 11 starts, 15 pts) Nigel Brady
Locks Matt Mustchin (26 apps, 18 starts) Matt McCullough (21 apps, 17 starts, 5 pts) Rowan Frost* (25 apps, 16 starts, 10 pts) Gary Longwell (13 apps, 11 starts) Tim Barker (2 apps)Back row Andy Ward (c) (30 apps, 30 starts, 30 pts) Neil Best (30 apps, 26 starts, 25 pts) Roger Wilson (26 apps, 20 starts, 5 pts) Tony McWhirter (10 apps, 9 starts, 10 pts) Neil McMillan (13 apps, 8 starts, 20 pts) Warren Brosnihan (8 apps, 10 pts) Gary Brown
Scrum-halves Neil Doak (21 apps, 17 starts) Kieran Campbell (17 apps, 11 starts) Reece Spee* (3 apps)
Fly-halves David Humphreys (15 apps, 15 starts, 204 pts) Adam Larkin (22 apps, 15 starts, 165 pts)Centres Shane Stewart (24 apps, 22 starts, 20 pts) Paul Steinmetz (21 apps, 20 starts, 5 pts) Ryan Constable (12 apps, 10 starts, 45 pts) Seamus Mallon (12 apps, 7 starts, 5 pts) Jonny Bell
Wings James Topping (25 apps, 23 starts, 10 pts) Tyrone Howe (21 apps, 21 starts, 60 pts) Scott Young (20 apps, 17 starts_ Tommy Bowe (2 apps, 1 start, 5 pts) Andy Maxwell
Fullbacks
Bryn Cunningham (27 apps, 26 starts, 25 pts) Paddy Wallace (19 apps, 9 starts, 70 pts) (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality."Ulster's 2002/3 squad", BBC Sport, 2 July 2002
Season record Competition Played Won Drawn Lost PF PA PD TF TA 2003-04 Heineken Cup 6 3 0 3 109 106 3 10 9 2003-04 Celtic League 22 15 0 7 617 363 254 67 29 2003-04 Celtic Cup 3 3 0 0 70 57 13 6 6 Total 31 21 0 10 796 526 270 83 44
2003–04 Heineken Cup
Pool 1 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffTBLBPts Stade Français 6402118313480541118 Leicester Tigers630317107137115223015 Ulster6303109110910631114 Newport Gwent Dragons6204516−1167146−79019
2003-04 Celtic League
TeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATry bonusLosing bonusPts1 Llanelli Scarlets 221615597385+212573973762 Ulster 221507617363+254672984723 Newport Gwent Dragons 221606590449+141594171724 Celtic Warriors 221408560451+109483754655 Neath-Swansea Ospreys 2211110582512+70556054556 Cardiff Blues 2211011570467+103735473547 Munster 2210012422456−34454965518 Leinster 229112523580−57516545479 Connacht 228212479550−715059534410 Edinburgh 229013454622−1685269624411 Glasgow 226115442614−1725261333212 Borders 224018363750−38742881522Under 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)Source: RaboDirect PRO12
Celtic Cup
Quarter-final
Semi-final
Final
Home attendance Domestic LeagueEuropean CupTotal League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance2003–04 Celtic League12•6,86312,0005,0412003–04 Heineken Cup311,489 12,30010,243116,8197,788
Friendlies
Ulster Rugby Awards The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Ramada Hotel on 20 May 2004. Winners were:"Emotional end to Ulster season", Belfast Telegraph, 21 May 2004
Ulster Rugby personality of the year: Alan Solomons Ulster player of the year: Roger Wilson Club Ulster supporters' player of the year: Andy Ward Schools player of the year: John McCall, Royal School, Armagh Coach of the year: Kenny Hooks, Royal School, Armagh Club of the year: Belfast Harlequins Team of the year: Belfast Harlequins 2nd XV Youth player of the year: Neville Farr, Banbridge RFC Dorrington B. Faulkner Award: Brian Banks Merit award: Bob Montgomery and Brian Elliott, Ravenhill grounds staff Media liaison of the year: John Dickson, Ballynahinch RFC
References