January Update from the OLSC
Off to a great start in 2008
Happy New Year to all from the Leinster Supporters Club. It's great to start the year off with Leinster clear at the top of the Magner's League table. Let's hope that 2008 will be our year.
Fortress RDS
As supporters we have a role to play in getting behind our team and spurring them on - in tough moments as well as the glorious ones. The Blue Army has been making its presence felt in numbers and voice on away trips this year and the home support in the early part of the season has been fantastic so thanks to one and all for 'giving it socks'.
This year we want to raise the bar higher still so don't be shy. Get shouting, wear your colours and join in the singing so we can make the RDS a rugby ground that the opposition fears playing in. Fortress RDS is an evolving entity and with each match the reputation grows.
For the next few weeks we turn our attention to the Heineken Cup, which brings its own special atmosphere and is the perfect opportunity to build both our relationship with the team and our reputation as supporters in rugby circles.
The Supporters Club hopes to provide more flags and bodhráns for the coming matches but if you already have a flag please bring it with you as the more we have flying the better the stadium looks. If you pick up a flag at a match but don't want to bring it home, they can be returned to the designated flag bins around the ground and the Club will then distribute them again at the next home game. This way we can turn the stadium a nice, intimidating shade of blue. Remember, if you want a flag get to your seat nice and early!
Toulouse are a proud rugby team with a strong support base but 800 travelling Leinster supporters showed them how it was done on a freezing night in Stade Toulousain last November. The result may not have gone in our favour but the supporters never gave up and even earned applause from the home team on their victory lap.
On Saturday we can show them how we do it at home. Loud and vocal to spur the lads on and silent and respectful when appropriate. As per Leinster and Ireland's excellent rugby tradition, we wish to maintain the silence shown to both home and opposition place kickers in the RDS. The Supporters Club appreciates your assistance in this. The silence can be more intimidating for kickers who are not used to it!
Heineken Cup in Leicester
The following week sees Leinster and the Blue Army heading to one of the best rugby cities in the UK as we take on Leicester. Here's hoping that we can recapture the form of the home tie and deliver a famous away victory. The supporters as always will be doing their utmost to have an impact and no doubt will enjoy the local hospitality along the way.
Supporters' HQ for this trip is the Walkabout, which will be offering travelling Leinster fans discounts for the weekend of the game. There will be special discounts on specific drinks and a 20% discount on food. In addition there will be free entry for Leinster supporters wearing their team colours or on presentation of Supporters Club membership cards. The Supporters Guide to Leicester will soon be available online at http://www.leinsterrugby.ie
Supporters Club travel deal
Returning to the Magners League, the OLSC has done a deal with Leinster sponsor Aer Arran to organise flights to Cardiff for the match against Llanelli on March 29, departing Dublin on match day and returning the following evening. The flights will be just 100 euro including taxes and charges and are on sale now. Call Amy Murphy in Leinster Rugby at Tel: 01 269 3224 to reserve a seat. Places will be on a first come first served basis.
Forthcoming events in 2008
Keep and eye out for news of 'Ladies Night' 2008 which will return in February bigger and better than before. Details for this event will be announced as soon as they are finalised. The 'meet the players' night is also on the agenda with scheduling to be finalised as soon as possible.
Legends T-Shirt
A new Supporters Club t-shirt honouring one of the team is also on the horizon. We look forward to announcing the details of this very soon.
Ticket distribution
At the OLSC's suggestion The Leinster Branch's international ticket allocation was broken up into individual matches so that as many members as possible would have the opportunity to attend the forthcoming Six Nations matches. Similarly, having taken on board the views of members who have communicated with us, in the interests of giving first preference to individual season ticket holders, we agreed that the allocation to the away Leicester tie was on the basis of one ticket per season ticket.
Q&A with Leinster Rugby CEO
Thanks to a great idea from Supporters Club member Killian Byrne Leinster Rugby has kindly arranged for branch CEO Mick Dawson to answer questions put forward by fans. It is planned that this will be an online session with questions submitted in advance. Supporters can submit questions by email up to January 17 to: LeinsterSupportersClub@LeinsterRugby.ie
Topics such as contracts, our new home, ticket distribution, fixtures, away travel, marketing and promotion are all open, the floor is yours. Please note that the CEO does not select the team, so questions regarding positions, player selection or the like will not be included; similarly, abusive posts will not be entertained. Please keep questions concise. A representative selection of questions will be chosen.
Membership cards
On a housekeeping front, the vast majority of you have now collected your Supporters Club Membership cards, which were distributed at three successive home matches. Those who have not yet picked their cards up can post the 'Reserve 1' tickets from their booklet, with your name and address to Leinster Rugby, 55 Main St, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 and your card will be sent to you.
As ever, keep an eye on the website, the Leinster Lowdown, Friday's Evening Herald and match day programmes for further updates on the activities of your club.
If you want to contact the committee on any matter or have any suggestions or feedback please email: LeinsterSupportersClub@LeinsterRugby.ie
by Official Leinster Supporters Club, © 2008-03-25
