By Gary Watton
April 24 2013
Having already compiled a mammoth list of all the matches and final tables in the Inter-Provincial tournament dating back to the 1969-1970 season, I am now recording the fluctuating fortunes of all four Irish provinces in the European Cup and the Celtic League during the modern, professional era.
1995-6
Connacht: no European fixtures in this year for Connacht
Leinster: beaten semi-finalists in the Heineken Cup
Munster: won 1 and lost 1 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup
Ulster: lost both pool matches in the Heineken Cup
1996-7
Connacht: won 2 and lost 3 of their pool matches in the European Challenge Cup
Leinster: won 1 and lost 2 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup
Munster: won 2 and lost 2 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup
Ulster: won 1 and lost 3 of their pool matches in the Heinken Cup
1997-8
Connacht: beaten quarter-finalists in the European Challenge Cup
Leinster: won 2 and lost 4 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup
Munster: won 2 and lost 4 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup
Ulster: won 1 and lost 5 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup
1998-9
Connacht: won 3 and lost 3 of their pool matches in the European Challenge Cup
Leinster: won 2 and lost 4 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup
Munster: beaten quarter-finalists in the Heineken Cup
Ulster: WINNERS of the Heineken Cup
1999-2000
Connacht: won 2 and lost 4 of their pool matches in the European Challenge Cup
Leinster: won 4 and lost 2 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup
Munster: runners-up in the Heineken Cup
Ulster: lost all 6 pool matches in the Heineken Cup
2000-1
Connacht: won 1 and lost 5 of their pool matches in the European Challenge Cup
Leinster: won 3, drew 1, and lost 2 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup
Munster: beaten semi-finalists in the Heineken Cup
Ulster: won 1, drew 1, and lost 4 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup
2001-2
Connacht: won 3 and lost 3 of their pool matches in the European Challenge Cup; beaten quarter-finalists in the Celtic League
Leinster: beaten quarter-finalists in the Heineken Cup; WINNERS of the Celtic League
Munster: runners-up in the Heineken Cup; runners-up in the Celtic League
Ulster: won 2 and lost 4 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; beaten semi-finalists in the Celtic League
2002-3
Connacht: beaten quarter-finalists in the European Challenge Cup; beaten quarter-finalists in the Celtic League
Leinster: beaten semi-finalists in the Heineken Cup; 5th in Pool B of the Celtic League
Munster: beaten semi-finalists in the Heineken Cup; WINNERS of the Celtic League
Ulster: won 4 and lost 2 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; beaten semi-finalists in the Celtic League
2003-4
Connacht: beaten semi-finalists in the European Challenge Cup; 9th in the Celtic League
Leinster: won 4 and lost 2 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; 8th in the Celtic League
Munster: beaten semi-finalists in the Heineken Cup; 7th in the Celtic League
Ulster: won 3 and lost 3 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; runners-up in the Celtic League
2004-5
Connacht: beaten semi-finalists in the European Challenge Cup; 10th in the Celtic League
Leinster: beaten quarter-finalists in the Heineken Cup; 3rd in the Celtic League
Munster: beaten quarter-finalists in the Heineken Cup; runners-up in the Celtic League
Ulster: won 3 and lost 3 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; 8th in the Celtic League
2005-6
Connacht: beaten quarter-finalists in the European Challenge Cup; 10th in the Celtic League
Leinster: beaten semi-finalists in the Heineken Cup; runners-up in the Celtic League
Munster: WINNERS of the Heineken Cup; 3rd in the Celtic League
Ulster: won 3 and lost 3 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; WINNERS of the Celtic League
2006-7
Connacht: won 1 and lost 5 of their pool matches in the European Challenge Cup; 10th in the Magners League
Leinster: beaten quarter-finalists in the Heineken Cup; 3rd in the Magners League
Munster: beaten quarter-finalists in the Heineken Cup; 6th in the Magners League
Ulster: won 2 and lost 4 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; 5th in the Magners League
2007-8
Connacht: won 3 and lost 3 of their pool matches in the European Challenge Cup; 10th in the Magners League
Leinster: won 3 and lost 3 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; WINNERS of the Magners League
Munster: WINNERS of the Heineken Cup; 3rd in the Magners League
Ulster: won 1 and lost 5 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; 9th in the Magners League
2008-9
Connacht: beaten quarter-finalists in the European Challenge Cup; 10th in the Magners League
Leinster: WINNERS of the Heineken Cup; 3rd in the Magners League
Munster: beaten semi-finalists in the Heineken Cup; WINNERS of the Magners League
Ulster: won 2, drew 1, and lost 3 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; 8th in the Magners League
2009-10
Connacht: beaten semi-finalists in the European Challenge Cup; 10th in the Magners League
Leinster: beaten semi-finalists in the Heineken Cup; runners-up in the Magners League
Munster: beaten semi-finalists in the Heineken Cup; play-off losers in the Magners League
Ulster: won 4 and lost 2 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; 8th in the Magners League
2010-11
Connacht: won 3 and lost 3 of their pool matches in the European Challenge Cup; 9th in the Magners League
Leinster: WINNERS of the Heineken Cup; runners-up in the Magners League
Munster: beaten semi-finalists in the European Challenge Cup; WINNERS of the Magners League
Ulster: beaten quarter-finalists in the Heineken Cup; play-off losers in the Magners League
2011-12
Connacht: won 1 and lost 5 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; 8th in the Pro12
Leinster: WINNERS of the Heineken Cup; runners-up in the Pro12
Munster: beaten quarter-finalists in the Heineken Cup; play-off losers in the Pro12
Ulster: runners-up in the Heineken Cup; 6th in the Pro12
2012-13
Connacht: won 3 and lost 3 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; 8th in Pro12
Leinster: won 4 and lost 2 of their pool matches in the Heineken Cup; WINNERS of the Pro12
Munster: beaten semi-finalists in the Heineken Cup; 6th in Pro12
Ulster: beaten quarter-finalists in the Heineken Cup; runners-up in the Pro12
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