The Ireland national rugby union team toured the South Seas in June 2003, playing matches against Australia, Tonga and Samoa. Head coach Eddie O'Sullivan initially selected a squad of 41 players for the tour. Keith Wood also travelled with the tour party as an additional player for training purposes.[1] However Rob Henderson, Denis Hickie and Anthony Foley all subsequently withdrew due to injuries[2][3] and Frankie Sheahan had to return home after testing positive for Salbutamol.[4] Aiden McCullen and Mike Mullins were both then called up as replacements. Mark McHugh marked his senior international debut with a try against Tonga, while McCullen and Anthony Horgan made their senior international debuts against Samoa. In the same game, Ronan O'Gara gave a man of the match performance, scoring 32 of Ireland's 40 points.
| 2003 Ireland rugby union tour of the Southern Hemisphere | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coach(es) | Eddie O'Sullivan | ||||
| Top test point scorer(s) | Ronan O'Gara (45) | ||||
| Top test try scorer(s) | John Kelly (3) | ||||
| Summary |
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| Total |
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| Test match |
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| Opponent |
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 Australia |
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 Tonga |
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 Samoa |
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| Tour chronology | |||||
| Previous tour | New Zealand 2002 | ||||
| Next tour | South Africa 2004 | ||||
Touring party
edit- Manager: Eddie O'Sullivan
- Captains: David Humphreys and Reggie Corrigan
Backs
editForwards
editMatches
editAustralia
edit| 7 June 2003 |
| Australia | 45–16 |  Ireland |
| Try: Flatley, Gregan 2 S Kefu, Latham 1 penalty try | Report[5] | Try: J Kelly Con: Humphreys Pen: Humphreys 2, O'Gara |
| Subiaco Oval, Perth Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales) |
Australia: 15. Chris Latham, 14. Wendell Sailor, 13. Morgan Turinui, 12. Steve Kefu, 11. Joe Roff, 10. Elton Flatley, 7. George Gregan (c), 6. Bill Young, 5. Jeremy Paul, 4. Patricio Noriega, 3. David Giffin, 2. Nathan Sharpe, 1. David Lyons, 9. George Smith – Replacements: 16. Brendan Cannon, 17. Ben Darwin, 18. Dan Vickerman, 19. Phil Waugh, 20. Chris Whitaker, 21. Nathan Grey, 22. Lote Tuqiri
Ireland: 15. Girvan Dempsey, 14. James Topping, 13. Geordan Murphy, 12. Kevin Maggs, 11. John Kelly, 10. David Humphreys (c), 7. Keith Gleeson, 6. Alan Quinlan, 5. Malcolm O'Kelly, 4. Gary Longwell, 3. Reggie Corrigan, 2. Shane Byrne, 1. Marcus Horan, 9. Peter Stringer – Replacements: 17. Emmet Byrne, 18. Paul O'Connell, 21. Ronan O'Gara – Unused: 16. Paul Shields, 19. Eric Miller, 20. Guy Easterby, 22. Tyrone Howe
Tonga
edit| 14 June 2003 |
| Tonga | 19–40 | Ireland |
| Try: Hola 2 Pen: Hola 3 | Report[6][7] | Try: Bell, Easterby 2, J Kelly 2, McHugh Con: O'Gara 2 Pen: O'Gara 2 |
| Teufaiva, Nukuʻalofa Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand) |
Tonga: 15. Gus Leger, 14. Pierre Hola, 13. Johnny Ngauamo, 12. John Payne, 11. Simana Mafileʻo, 10. Toni Alatini, 9. David Palu, 1. Tonga Leaʻaetoa, 2. Vili Maʻasi, 3. Hemani Lavaka, 4. Milton Ngauamo, 5. Inoke Afeaki (c), 6. Nisifolo Naufahu, 7. Stanley Afeaki, 8. Saia Latu – Replacements: 16. Ephraim Taukafa, 17. Kisi Pulu, 18. Viliami Vaki, 21. Taniela Tulia – Unused: 19. Benhur Kivalu, 20. Willie Gibbons, 22. Tevita Tuʻifua
Ireland: 15. Mark McHugh, 14. John Kelly, 13. Mike Mullins, 12. Jonny Bell, 11. Tyrone Howe, 10. Ronan O'Gara, 9. Guy Easterby, 8. Eric Miller, 7. Kieron Dawson, 6. Simon Easterby, 5. Paul O'Connell, 4. Leo Cullen, 3. Reggie Corrigan (c), 2. Shane Byrne, 1. Justin Fitzpatrick – Replacements: 17. Simon Best, 18. Donncha O'Callaghan, 19. David Wallace, 22. Gordon D'Arcy – Unused: 16. Paul Shields, 20. Brian O'Meara, 21. Paul Burke
Samoa
edit| 20 June 2003 |
| Samoa | 14–40 | Ireland |
| Try: Fanu'atanu, Va'a Con: Va'a 2 | Report[8][9] | Try: Miller, O'Gara 2 Con: O'Gara 2 Pen: Burke, O'Gara 5 Drop: O'Gara |
| Apia Park, Apia Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand) |
Samoa: 15. Fa'atonu Fili, 14. Lome Fa'atau, 13. Dale Rasmussen, 12. Brian Lima, 11. Ron Fanu'atanu, 10. Earl Va'a, 9. Denning Tyrell, 8. Kas Lealamanu'a, 7. Trevor Leota, 6. Jeremy Tomuli, 5. Opeta Palepoi, 4. Kitiona Viliamu, 3. Leo Lafaiali'i, 2. Maurie Fa'asavalu, 1. Semo Sititi (c) – Replacements: 16. Jonathan Meredith, 17. Tamato Leupolu, 18. Des Tuiali'i, 20. Steve So'oialo, 21. Gaolo Elisara – Unused: 19. Ponali Tapelu, 22. Dom Feau'nati
Ireland: 15. Girvan Dempsey, 14. John Kelly, 13. Mike Mullins, 12. Jonny Bell, 11. Anthony Horgan, 10. Ronan O'Gara, 9. Guy Easterby, 8. Eric Miller, 7. Aidan McCullen, 6. Simon Easterby, 5. Paul O'Connell, 4. Leo Cullen, 3. Reggie Corrigan (c), 2. Shane Byrne, 1. Marcus Horan – Replacements: 16. Paul Burke, 17. Gordon D'Arcy, 18. Donncha O'Callaghan, 19. Paul Shields, 20. Emmet Byrne, 21. Brian O'Meara, 22. David Wallace
References
edit- ^ "Wood and two Wallaces included in tour squad". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
- ^ "Hickie out of tour squad". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Foley Out of Summer Tour". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Sheahan returns from Australia". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Aussie Win In The Subiaco". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Irish Hit Tonga For Six". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ^ "IRELAND TOUR - Nuku A'lofa, 14 June 2003". espnscrum. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "O'Gara The Star in Irish Victory". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Impressive Finish To Tour". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.