THE LITTLE THINGS. A couple of weeks ago, in the midst of pre-season, the Leinster women’s squad gathered for a team meeting at their King’s Hospital base, only to be surprised with a box of goodies from the province’s various sponsors.
Videos of delighted players opening the kit like excited children on Christmas morning soon surfaced on social media, and you wondered why there was such a reaction from the room. Boots from Adidas, foam rollers and medicine balls from Laya Healthcare. The little things.
Leinster captain Sene Naoupu at Donnybrook this week. Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO
But this was about so much more than just receiving a free pair of new boots for the season ahead or a branded gear bag. It’s all a nice bonus, of course, but this was another powerful show of support from Leinster Rugby for its women’s team. And you could tell it meant a lot.
Actions over words.
Leinster are driving standards for women’s rugby in this country. Not only have they supported their players as they should in terms of support, but have, in many ways, led the way for the other provinces.
The extended inter-provincial series, which gets underway this weekend, sees Leinster open their title defence against Connacht at Donnybrook as part of a first-ever double-header with the men’s team.
Actions over words.
At a time when the women’s game in Ireland continues to go through a difficult transitionary period, Leinster are making positive headlines off the pitch. Earlier this week, they staged their first media event of the season with both Armstrong and Sene Naoupu in attendance alongside Leo Cullen.
The little things.
Saturday will be a milestone event for the province, the culmination of a lot of hard work behind the scenes to get both the men’s and women’s teams together as one and on the same pitch, one after the other. But it should become the norm, not the exception.
“It has come a long way,” Naoupu says. “We’re really grateful for it. Leinster Rugby as a province, they’ve been champions for us in different departments. They’ve been really supportive of Leinster women’s rugby as a brand and us as a squad. The commodity is strong to invest in from a commercial point of view.
“The keyword is belonging. For us in the female game, it’s really important we feel like we belong to something and feel part of something. To be part of a province like Leinster Rugby is a huge privilege and there are a number of sponsors that have been supportive of the women’s game. The fact that there are committees driving this is really important.
Head coach Armstrong may only be in his second season in charge having taken over from Adam Griggs, but already he has noticed the increased levels of support, which in turn have driven the standard of professionalism within the squad to new heights.
“Yeah, it has reached a new level,” he agrees. “Some of the stuff that we’ve been able to do for the girls, and get for them, is new. It just shows there’s a lot more interest in women’s rugby and it’s not just a sidebar anymore. It’s an event on its own.