Party Like It's 1999

Excellent documentary by BBCNI on Ulsters last successful European campaign, made on the 10-year anniversary. Well worth a watch for any rugby fan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7933527.stm

Just remembering 1999, it really is Mighty Ducks territory like.

From the conceding two tries in the first five minutes of our campaign, to being delighted to "only" lose 39-3 in Toulouse, to going on a three-game winning steak after the inspirational coach gave them a tongue lashing for above attitude, to win in Edinburgh and then the unbelievable news Toulouse had somehow lost to Ebbw Vale and Ulster would be top of the group. Harry Williams after that said 'our names on the cup'.

In the Toulouse game in the quarter-final; the teams star backrower Andy Ward has to leave after 50 minutes to attend the birth of his child and David Humphreys makes a last gap try saving tackle in the last minute to save us. In the semi-final, captain Humphreys scores a magical try in front of a packed Ravenhill as we beat the top side in Europe. And then the Final; unshakeable self-belief and determination. The story of Simon Mason doing his kicking practice before the game and getting 50 out of 50. The sign on the motorway on the way down; "Boyne RFC wishes Ulster Rugby all the best." Lansdowne Road a sea of red and white; 50,000 Ulster fans.

Just one of the unbelievable sporting stories; sorry to g on about it, but there's never been anything like it in this competition. A team of professionals mixed with semi-professionals doing that? Nah, sorry. They wouldn't make that film!

Let's do it again

Look forward to watching it Notch since you know, I don't know anything about it!

clivemcl wrote:Look forward to watching it Notch since you know, I don't know anything about it!

You HAVE to watch it then! Pretty immense.

Remember watching this before Notch, will have to watch it later again to get in the mood for the final!

SUFTUM!

Thanks for sharing Notch should bring back memories and set the mood for Saturday

Who are Colomiers?

Feckless Rogue wrote:Who are Colomiers?

Pity yiz can't play them this year......

quite funny that back in 1999 Leinster were the Connacht of Ireland

Feckless Rogue wrote:Who are Colomiers?

I think they are Racing Metro. Then again, that could have been Racing Club de France. But the home ground is in Colomiers.

BoyneRFC wrote:

Feckless Rogue wrote:Who are Colomiers?

I think they are Racing Metro. Then again, that could have been Racing Club de France. But the home ground is in Colomiers.

Racing plays in a city called Colombes...

US Colomiers it was, basically a suburb from Toulouse. they had a great team in 1998/1999 before going down with palyers such as Galthié, Skrela, Marc dal maso and Sadourny.

Colomiers are an unfortunate victim of the money in French rugby. They were a small club that produced a very good team and some great talent around that era; In 1998 they won the European Challenge Cup, in 1999 they reached the European Cup final and in 2000 they reached the Top 14 final.

But their success attracted the attention of the big clubs and the lost a lot of their best players in the following years. Yannick Jauzion and David Skrela went to Toulouse, Fabien Galthie and Patrick Tabacco went to Stade Francais, Jean-Luc Sadourny retired in 2003 and Marc Del Maso moved on to another club as well.

A few years later they were relegated; they had the muscle on the pitch, but long term they didn't have the muscle off it!

I'm getting goose bumps again just reading Notch's description of the campaign in 1999 never mind rewatching the programme!!!

Brilliant! loved watching that! A few questions...

Will they get a better bus this time?
Have they not recorded a song this year?

Colombiers are the team who dumped Munster out of the quarter finals that year, 23 – 9.

Leinster, of course, did not get out of their group.

clivemcl wrote:Have they not recorded a song this year?

Thankfully no!

Don Alfonso wrote:Colombiers are the team who dumped Munster out of the quarter finals that year, 23 – 9.

Leinster, of course, did not get out of their group.

I believe that 1999 was the year that Ulster last beat Leinster outside of Belfast.

Exactly comes round every 13 years

I like this bit of the video

Spoiler:

Even in 1999 rugby stayed above politics. And sadly soccer still doesn't.

geoff998rugby wrote:Exactly comes round every 13 years

Ah that's grand so. Won't be until August then.

Feckless Rogue wrote:I like this bit of the video

Spoiler:

Even in 1999 rugby stayed above politics. And sadly soccer still doesn't.

+ 1

I don't think we'll have Boyne RFC on our side this time though!