1996–97 Munster Rugby season

1996–97 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s)	Thomond Park (Capacity: 13,200); Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,300)
Coach(es)	Jerry Holland
Captain(s)	Mick Galwey
← 1995–96	1997–98 →

The 1996–97 Munster Rugby season was Munster's second season as a professional team, during which they competed in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship and Heineken Cup.

1996–97 squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Team	P	W	L	F	A	BP	Pts	Status
Munster	3	3	0	117	92	-	12	Champions; qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
Leinster	3	1	2	88	92	-	4	Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
Ulster	3	1	2	81	89	-	4	Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
Connacht	3	1	2	77	90	-	4

21 September 1996

Munster	45–28	Connacht
Try: Lacey (2) Foley McCahill Walsh Con: O'Halloran (4) Pen: O'Halloran (3) Drop: O'Halloran	Report^[1]	Try: A. Reddan Devine (2) Con: Elwood (2) Pen: Elwood (3)

Temple Hill
Referee: A. Watson

28 September 1996

Leinster	40–45	Munster
Try: Coleman Ridge McQuilkin Francis Hickie Con: Governey (3) Pen: Governey (3)	Report^[2]	Try: Galwey (2) Halvey Con: Begley Lynch (2) Pen: Begley (8) Lynch (2) Drop: Keane

Donnybrook
Referee: Graham Hughes

5 October 1996

Munster	27–24	Ulster
Try: Dineen, Galwey Con: Begley Pen: Begley (3) Drop: McIvor, Keene	Report^[3]	Try: Duncan Coulter Con: Laing Pen: Laing (4)

Thomond Park
Referee: A. Lewis

Team	P	W	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Pts
Toulouse	4	3	1	21	13	8	157	142	15	6
Cardiff	4	3	1	16	7	9	135	97	38	6
London Wasps	4	2	2	17	14	3	156	115	41	4
Munster	4	2	2	11	22	–11	109	135	–26	4
Milan	4	0	4	6	15	–9	73	141	–68	0

12 October 1996
15:00

Munster	23–5	Milan
	Report^[4]

Musgrave Park
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: David Davies

16 October 1996
19:15

Cardiff	43–18	Munster
	Report^[5]

Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: John Bacigalupo

19 October 1996
15:00

Munster	49–22	London Wasps
	Report^[6]

Thomond Park
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Didier Mene

2 November 1996
19:00

Toulouse	60–19	Munster
	Report^[7]

9 November 1996

Munster	25–35	Samoa XV
	Report^[8]

26 November 1996

Munster	19–55	Australia XV
	Report^[9]

Thomond Park
Referee: Robert Davies

^ "Munster 45-28 Connacht". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ "Leinster 40-45 Leinster". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ "Munster 27-24 Ulster". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ "Munster 23–5 Milan". EPCR. 12 October 1996. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ "Cardiff Blues 48-18 Munster". EPCR. 16 October 1996. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ "Munster 49-22 London Wasps". EPCR. 19 October 1996. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ "Toulouse 60-19 Munster". EPCR. 2 November 1996. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ "Munster 25-35 Samoa XV". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
^ "Munster 19-55 Australia XV". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.