2003–04 Munster Rugby season

The 2003–04 Munster Rugby season was Munster's third season competing in the Celtic League, alongside which they also competed in the Heineken Cup. It was Alan Gaffney's first season as head coach.

2003–04 Munster Rugby season

Ground(s)	Thomond Park (Capacity: 13,200) Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,300)
Coach(es)	Alan Gaffney
Captain(s)	Jim Williams
League(s)	Celtic League
2003–04	7th
← 2002–03 2004–05 →

2003–04 squad

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union James Blaney Hooker Ireland Jerry Flannery Hooker Ireland Andy Long Hooker England Frankie Sheahan Hooker Ireland John Hayes Prop Ireland Marcus Horan Prop Ireland Simon Kerr Prop Australia Eugene McGovern Prop Ireland Gordon McIlwham Prop Ireland Frank Roche Prop Ireland Tommy Hayes Lock Ireland Trevor Hogan Lock Ireland Donncha O'Callaghan Lock Ireland Paul O'Connell Lock Ireland Shane O'Connor Lock Ireland Donal Sheehan Lock Ireland Anthony Foley Back row Ireland Stephen Keogh Back row Ireland Denis Leamy Back row Ireland Colm McMahon Back row Ireland David Pusey Back row Australia Alan Quinlan Back row Ireland David Wallace Back row Ireland Jim Williams (c) Back row Australia

Player Position Union Frank Murphy Scrum-half Ireland Mike Prendergast Scrum-half Ireland Eoin Reddan Scrum-half Ireland Peter Stringer Scrum-half Ireland Ronan O'Gara Fly-half Ireland Jeremy Staunton Fly-half Ireland Clem Casey Centre Ireland Rob Henderson Centre Ireland Jason Holland Centre Ireland Jason Jones-Hughes Centre Wales Killian Keane Centre Ireland Mike Mullins Centre Ireland Conrad O'Sullivan Centre Ireland Anthony Horgan Wing Ireland John Kelly Wing Ireland Mossy Lawler Wing Ireland Martin McPhail Wing Ireland Dominic Crotty Fullback Ireland Christian Cullen Fullback New Zealand Shaun Payne Fullback South Africa

Pre-season

22 August 2003

Munster	38–19	Rotherham
	Report[1]

Thomond Park

29 August 2003

Connacht	12–38	Munster
	Report[2]

Galway Sportsgrounds

2003–04 Celtic League

Main article: 2003–04 Celtic League

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	Try bonus	Losing bonus	Pts
1	Llanelli Scarlets	22	16	1	5	597	385	+212	57	39	7	3	76
2	Ulster	22	15	0	7	617	363	+254	67	29	8	4	72
3	Newport Gwent Dragons	22	16	0	6	590	449	+141	59	41	7	1	72
4	Celtic Warriors	22	14	0	8	560	451	+109	48	37	5	4	65
5	Neath-Swansea Ospreys	22	11	1	10	582	512	+70	55	60	5	4	55
6	Cardiff Blues	22	11	0	11	570	467	+103	73	54	7	3	54
7	Munster	22	10	0	12	422	456	−34	45	49	6	5	51
8	Leinster	22	9	1	12	523	580	−57	51	65	4	5	47
9	Connacht	22	8	2	12	479	550	−71	50	59	5	3	44
10	Edinburgh	22	9	0	13	454	622	−168	52	69	6	2	44
11	Glasgow	22	6	1	15	442	614	−172	52	61	3	3	32
12	Borders	22	4	0	18	363	750	−387	42	88	1	5	22
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)
Source: RaboDirect PRO12

5 September 2003 19:35

Leinster	8–15	Munster
	Report[3]

Donnybrook Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Paul Adams

12 September 2003 19:30

Munster	12–19	Llanelli Scarlets
	Report[4]

Thomond Park Attendance: 5,500

27 September 2003 17:30

Neath-Swansea Ospreys	33–26	Munster
	Report[5]

St. Helen's Attendance: 5,200

10 October 2003 19:30

Munster	15–16	Ulster
	Report[6]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 4,000

17 October 2003 19:05

Newport Gwent Dragons	29–6	Munster
	Report[7]

Rodney Parade Attendance: 3,571

24 October 2003 19:30

Munster	26–10	Glasgow
	Report[8]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 2,000

31 October 2003 19:30

Munster	22–21	Celtic Warriors
	Report[9]

Thomond Park Attendance: 3,500

7 November 2003 19:30

Edinburgh	20–9	Munster
	Report[10]

Meadowbank Attendance: 2,300

28 November 2003 19:35

Munster	31–10	Cardiff Blues
	Report[11]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Iain Ramage

2 January 2004 19:00

Connacht	0–3	Munster
	Report[12]

Dubarry Park Attendance: 3,500

6 February 2004 19:30

Munster	29–21	Borders
	Report[13]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 3,800

13 February 2004 19:35

Munster	24–13	Leinster
	Report[14]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 5,400 Referee: Hugh Watkins

20 February 2004 19:30

Llanelli Scarlets	37–20	Munster
	Report[15]

Stradey Park Attendance: 6,169

27 February 2004 19:35

Munster	15–18	Neath-Swansea Ospreys
	Report[16]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,000

5 March 2004 19:35

Ulster	36–13	Munster
	Report[17]

Ravenhill Attendance: 8,820

12 March 2004 19:30

Munster	6–16	Newport Gwent Dragons
	Report[18]

Thomond Park Attendance: 4,470

26 March 2004 19:55

Glasgow	12–37	Munster
	Report[19]

Hughenden Attendance: 2,645

2 April 2004 19:05

Celtic Warriors	29–25	Munster
	Report[20]

Sardis Road Attendance: 4,157

16 April 2004 19:30

Munster	17–28	Edinburgh
	Report[21]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 4,935

30 April 2004 19:05

Cardiff Blues	60–14	Munster
	Report[22]

Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 4,110 Referee: Iain Ramage

7 May 2004 19:35

Munster	39–10	Connacht
	Report[23]

Thomond Park Attendance: 3,233

14 May 2004 19:30

Borders	10–18	Munster
	Report[24]

Netherdale Attendance: 2,000

2003–04 Celtic Cup

Main article: Celtic Cup (rugby union)

Quarter-final

3 October 2003 19:30

Glasgow	18–14	Munster
	Report[25]

Hughenden Attendance: 2,942

2003–04 Heineken Cup

Main article: 2003–04 Heineken Cup

Pool 5

Team	P	W	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	TB	LB	Pts
Munster	6	5	0	1	22	5	17	172	76	96	4	0	24
Gloucester	6	5	0	1	22	11	11	197	100	97	4	0	24
Bourgoin	6	1	0	5	13	22	−9	119	191	−72	2	1	7
Benetton Treviso	6	1	0	5	13	32	−19	104	225	−121	1	0	5

6 December 2003 18:00

Bourgoin	17–18	Munster
	Report[26]

Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 9,200 Referee: Nigel Whitehouse

13 December 2003 17:00

Munster	51–0	Benetton Treviso
	Report[27]

Thomond Park Attendance: 13,000 Referee: Rob Dickson

10 January 2004 27:00

Gloucester	22–11	Munster
	Report[28]

Kingsholm Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Nigel Williams

17 January 2004 17:00

Munster	36–8	Gloucester
	Report[29]

Thomond Park Attendance: 12,000

24 January 2004 14:30

Benetton Treviso	20–31	Munster
	Report[30]

Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 5,500 Referee: Joel Dume

31 January 2004 17:00

Munster	26–3	Bourgoin
	Report[31]

Thomond Park Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Tony Spreadbury

Quarter-final

10 April 2004 17:00

Munster	37–32	Stade Français
	Report[32]

Thomond Park Attendance: 13,100 Referee: Nigel Williams

Semi-final

25 April 2004 15:00

Munster	32–37	London Wasps
	Report[33]

Lansdowne Road Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Nigel Williams

References

1. "A Win for Munster in Thomond Park". Munster Rugby. 23 August 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
2. "Munster Defeat Connacht in Galway". Munster Rugby. 29 August 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
3. "Munster Get the Job Done in Donnybrook". Munster Rugby. 5 September 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
4. "Llanelli End Munster Record". Munster Rugby. 12 September 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
5. "Neath/Swansea too strong for Munster". Munster Rugby. 27 September 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
6. "Munster Lose to Ulster in Musgrave". Munster Rugby. 10 October 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
7. "Munster Defeated by Dragons". Munster Rugby. 17 October 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
8. "Munster Beat Glasgow in Musgrave". Munster Rugby. 24 October 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
9. "Staunton Kicks Munster to Victory". Munster Rugby. 31 October 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
10. "Munster Lose in Edinburgh". Munster Rugby. 7 November 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
11. "Munster back to Winning Ways". Munster Rugby. 28 November 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
12. "Munster Slip Past Connacht". Munster Rugby. 3 January 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
13. "Borders unable to Stop Munster". Munster Rugby. 6 February 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
14. "Munster Secure Bonus Point". Munster Rugby. 13 February 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
15. "Llanelli 37 Munster 20". Munster Rugby. 21 February 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
16. "Elvis Rocks Munster". Munster Rugby. 27 February 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
17. "Ulster 36-13 Munster". Munster Rugby. 6 March 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
18. "Dragons defeat Munster at Thomond Park". Munster Rugby. 13 March 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
19. "Munster too Strong for Glasgow". Munster Rugby. 27 March 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
20. "Munster unlucky at Sardis Road". Munster Rugby. 3 April 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
21. "Munster's Poor Run in the Celtic League Continues". Munster Rugby. 17 April 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
22. "Munster Humbled in Cardiff". Munster Rugby. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
23. "Munster 39-10 Connacht". Munster Rugby. 7 May 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
24. "Munster Finish on a High". Munster Rugby. 15 May 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
25. "Munster out of Celtic Cup". Munster Rugby. 4 October 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
26. "Munster Win in France". Munster Rugby. 7 December 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
27. "Munster Outclass Treviso". Munster Rugby. 13 December 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
28. "Gloucester 22 Munster 11". Munster Rugby. 10 January 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
29. "Munster Inspire in Thomond Park". Munster Rugby. 17 January 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
30. "Munster Score Five Tries in Italy". Munster Rugby. 24 January 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
31. "Munster Secure Home Quarter Final". Munster Rugby. 31 January 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
32. "Munster 37-32 Stade Francais". Munster Rugby. 10 April 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
33. "Brave Munster Out of Heineken Cup". Munster Rugby. 25 April 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.

External links

• 2003–04 Munster Rugby season official site