2003–04 Ulster Rugby season
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. 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. 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. Ulster finished second in the table. Tyrone Howe was the league's joint third leading try scorer with nine. 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. Tommy Bowe was named IRUPA Young Player of the Year. 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. Backs coach Mark McCall was named as the new head coach. Staff

Squad

Senior squad

Players in
 Tim Barker from  Dungannon
 Tommy Bowe from  Belfast Harlequins
 Rowan Frost from  Connacht
 Gary Brown from  Portadown
 Seamus Mallon from  Dungannon
 Andy Maxwell from  Ballymena
 Ronan McCormack from  Connacht
 Rod Moore from  Waratahs
 Matt Mustchin from  Canterbury Crusaders
 Simon Shawe from  Belfast Harlequins
 Reece Spee from  City of Derry
 Paul Steinmetz from  Otago Highlanders
 Roger Wilson from  Belfast Harlequins
 Bryan Young from  Ballymena

Players out
 Mark Blair to  Narbonne
 Sheldon Coulter released
 Jan Cunningham released
 Jeremy Davidson retired
 Justin Fitzpatrick to  Castres
 Russell Nelson to  Padova
 David Spence released

2003–04 Heineken Cup

Pool 1

2003-04 Celtic League

Celtic Cup

Quarter-final

Semi-final

Final

Ulster Rugby Awards
The Ulster Rugby Awards ceremony was held at the Ramada Hotel on 20 May 2004. Winners were:

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

Ulster Rugby seasons
Ulster
Ulster
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