2003 Ireland rugby union tour of the Southern Hemisphere

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
P W D L
Total
03 02 00 01
Test match
03 01 00 02
Opponent
P W D L
 Australia
1 0 0 1
 Tonga
1 1 0 0
 Samoa
1 1 0 0
Tour chronology
Previous tourNew Zealand 2002
Next tourSouth Africa 2004

Touring party

edit

Backs

edit

Forwards

edit

Matches

edit

Australia

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 SmithReplacements: 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 StringerReplacements: 17. Emmet Byrne, 18. Paul O'Connell, 21. Ronan O'GaraUnused: 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 LatuReplacements: 16. Ephraim Taukafa, 17. Kisi Pulu, 18. Viliami Vaki, 21. Taniela TuliaUnused: 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 FitzpatrickReplacements: 17. Simon Best, 18. Donncha O'Callaghan, 19. David Wallace, 22. Gordon D'ArcyUnused: 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 ElisaraUnused: 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 HoranReplacements: 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
  1. ^ "Wood and two Wallaces included in tour squad". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  2. ^ "Hickie out of tour squad". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  3. ^ "Foley Out of Summer Tour". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  4. ^ "Sheahan returns from Australia". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  5. ^ "Aussie Win In The Subiaco". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  6. ^ "Irish Hit Tonga For Six". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  7. ^ "IRELAND TOUR - Nuku A'lofa, 14 June 2003". espnscrum. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  8. ^ "O'Gara The Star in Irish Victory". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  9. ^ "Impressive Finish To Tour". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2008.