Leinster have sold close to 3,000 tickets and expect closer to 4,000 fans to attend the 6,000 capacity Tallaght Stadium this afternoon (kick-off 4pm) for their pre-season friendly against Ulster.
The province's evangelical approach to demographics and location has been broader than one isolated game and while Shamrock Rovers may not be rocked by an avalanche of their own converting to the oval ball, Leinster have been active.
While Ireland and Lions backrow forward Seán O'Brien's inclusion in the Leinster pack remains an attraction and the return to play of Ireland and Ulster back Stuart Olding after 10 months is welcome, the match aims to reinforce programmes Leinster launched last year.
The trophies, mascot and features in local papers this week as well as a schools programme in the area last year hopes to convert interest into bodies.
Not first time
It is not the first time that a pre-season friendly has been hosted at the Tallaght Stadium with Gloucester visiting in advance of the 2012-13 season resulting in a 33-22 win for the home side. More recently the stadium hosted the Beauchamps Leinster Schools Junior Cup final between Blackrock College and Belvedere College in March of this year.
Tag Rugby has been rolled out to primary schools in the area as a way of introduction. At the end of last year over 100 students in 5th and 6th class in St Anne's Primary School, Fettercairn, Tallaght began a six week Leinster Tag Rugby Programme.
This morning Tallaght First XV will play Tallaght Legends in Tymon North Park, while Tallaght RFC will promote the club outside the Tallaght stadium before the game begins. At half-time the mini game will also feature Tallaght RFC U11 and U12s.
Very much pre-season lineups, Leinster also have some marquee names with Springbok, Zane Kirchener at fullback and Lions props Cian Healy and Mike Ross in the scrum. Ulster have Jared Payne, Irish qualified this season, in the outside centre position.
Leinster’s replacements will be confirmed today but the provisional list includes senior players Michael Bent, Tadhg Furlong, Tom Denton, Ben Marshall, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan and Sam Coghlan Murray.
