# 1997–98 Munster Rugby season

The 1997–98 Munster Rugby season was Munster's third season as a professional team, during which they competed in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship and Heineken Cup.

## 1997–98 squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
| Player | Position | Union |
| Mark McDermott | Hooker | Ireland |
| Frankie Sheahan | Hooker | Ireland |
| Des Clohessy | Prop | Ireland |
| Peter Clohessy | Prop | Ireland |
| John Hayes | Prop | Ireland |
| Aidan McSweeney | Prop | Ireland |
| Ian Murray | Prop | Ireland |
| Mick Galwey (c) | Lock | Ireland |
| Shane Leahy | Lock | Ireland |
| Donncha O'Callaghan | Lock | Ireland |
| Mick O'Driscoll | Lock | Ireland |
| David Corkery | Back row | Ireland |
| Anthony Foley | Back row | Ireland |
| Eddie Halvey | Back row | Ireland |
| Jerry Murray | Back row | Ireland |
| Ultan O'Callaghan | Back row | Ireland |
| Alan Quinlan | Back row | Ireland |
| Greg Tuohy | Back row | Ireland |
| David Wallace | Back row | Ireland |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Stephen McIvor | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Brian O'Meara | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Peter Stringer | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Barry Everitt | Fly-half | Ireland |
| Ronan O'Gara | Fly-half | Ireland |
| Conor Burke | Centre | Ireland |
| Killian Keane | Centre | Ireland |
| Cian Mahony | Centre | Ireland |
| Conor Mahony | Centre | Ireland |
| Mike Lynch | Centre | Ireland |
| Rhys Ellison | Wing | New Zealand |
| Anthony Horgan | Wing | Ireland |
| John Kelly | Wing | Ireland |
| John Lacey | Wing | Ireland |
| Andrew Thompson | Wing | Ireland |
| Dominic Crotty | Fullback | Ireland |

## 1997–98 IRFU Interprovincial Championship

| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | BP | Pts | Status |
| Leinster | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 61 | 46 | - | 8 | Champions; qualified for next season's Heineken Cup |
| Munster | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 43 | - | 8 | Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup |
| Ulster | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 59 | 65 | - | 4 | Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup |
| Connacht | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 64 | - | 4 | |
* 16 August 1997
| Connacht | 9–29 | Munster |
| | Report | |
* Galway Sportsgrounds
* 23 August 1997
| Munster | 15–12 | Leinster |
| | Report | |
* Mardyke
* 30 August 1997
| Ulster | 22–12 | Munster |
| Try: Park Con: Laing Pen: Laing (4) Drop: Laing | Report | Pen: O'Gara (4) |
* Ravenhill Referee: M. White

## 1997–98 Heineken Cup
### Pool 4

| Team | P | W | D | L | Tries for | Tries against | Try diff | Points for | Points against | Points diff | Pts |
| Harlequins | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 198 | 141 | 57 | 8 |
| Cardiff | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 184 | 146 | 38 | 8 |
| Bourgoin | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 141 | 180 | −39 | 4 |
| Munster | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 11 | −4 | 93 | 149 | −56 | 4 |
* 7 September 1997 14:00
| Harlequins | 48–40 | Munster |
| | Report | |
* Twickenham Stoop Attendance: 3,682 Referee: Patrick Thomas
* 13 September 1997 14:30
| Cardiff | 43–23 | Munster |
| | Report | |
* Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Brian Campsall
* 20 September 1997 15:00
| Munster | 17–15 | Bourgoin |
| | Report | |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Huw Lewis
* 27 September 1997 15:00
| Munster | 32–37 | Cardiff |
| | Report | |
* Musgrave Park Attendance: 5,000 Referee: Tony Spreadbury
* 4 October 1997 15:00
| Bourgoin | 21–6 | Munster |
| | Report | |
* Stade Pierre Rajon Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Chris White
* 12 October 1997 16:30
| Munster | 23–16 | Harequins |
| | Report | |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Nigel Whitehouse