Editing Cardiff RFC (section)

====Lynn Howells====
After the unsuccessful rebel season, Cardiff signed British Lion outside-half Neil Jenkins, as well as Wales internationals second-row Craig Quinnell and flanker Martyn Williams. The start of the 1999–2000 season for Cardiff was hampered by them missing 13 first choice players due to the World Cup, and in late September they fell to a humiliating 60–18 defeat away to Llanelli at Stradey Park. However, despite this poor start and failing to win in the first rounds of the Heineken Cup, they progressed to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, where they were beaten by Llanelli, and clinched the Welsh/Scottish League title with three games remaining, The season is also notable for a club record victory of 116–0 over Duvnant in the Welsh/Scottish League,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiffrfc.com/News/Article/17522|title=Cardiff 116 Dunvant 0 - Cardiff RFC|website=Cardiffrfc.com|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415092352/http://www.cardiffrfc.com/News/Article/17522|archive-date=15 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and the club going unbeaten at home for almost the whole season, before losing 41–40 to Swansea in their very last game of the season (with the title already sewn up). This was Cardiff's first defeat at the Arms Park for over two years, since 13 December 1997, again against Swansea.

During the close season Cardiff lost Leigh Davies to Llanelli but signed South African centre Pieter Muller to replace him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/889574.stm|title=BBC SPORT - WALES - Newport for the title|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018}}</ref> They won their first five Welsh/Scottish League matches, seemingly making certain they would retain their title,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/welsh-scottish_rugby/926957.stm|title=BBC SPORT - WELSH-SCOTTISH RUGBY - Welsh-Scottish League table|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021229095921/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/welsh-scottish_rugby/926957.stm|archive-date=29 December 2002|df=dmy-all}}</ref> especially as Swansea lost three of their first five games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swansearfc.co.uk/Page/Content/760|title=2000-01 Season - Swansea RFC|website=Swansearfc.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214743/http://www.swansearfc.co.uk/Page/Content/760|archive-date=3 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The highlight of the season was in late October, when the Blue and Blacks stunned English Premiership leaders Saracens by defeating them home and away in the Heineken Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/jenkins-crushes-saracens-myth-636828.html|title=Jenkins crushes Saracens' myth|date=29 October 2000|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304214523/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/jenkins-crushes-saracens-myth-636828.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The club's great form began to stutter as the millennium drew to a close, but it was in January the wheels really came off. After a magnificent 42–16 victory over Ulster, two yellow cards led Cardiff to defeat in Toulouse, meaning they would have to travel to Gloucester in the quarter-finals. A turgid forward battle resulted in a 21–15 defeat for the Blue and Blacks. Two weeks later they then lost to Bridgend, their first home defeat of the season, meaning Swansea pulled ahead in the title race. Another defeat at Ebbw Vale in March condemned them to a trophyless season. 
Following the unsuccessful season Lynn Howells's contract was not renewed and Rudy Joubert was appointed director of rugby. Gareth Thomas also left the club along with nine other players, but Rob Appleyard, Matt Allen and Craig Hudson all joined.

For the 2001 Lions tour, four Cardiff players were picked, Rob Howley, Neil Jenkins, Dai Young and Martyn Williams. Young became the first player to tour for the Lions in three different decades. Howley started the first two Tests, with Williams on the bench in all three, and Jenkins coming on to replace Jonny Wilkinson in the second. Howley was dropped for the third, deciding Test.