Leinster welcome a pair of charity partners

The announcement came on the back of a thorough and widespread selection process conducted by a newly-formed CSR committee during the summer months.

LauraLynn is a hospice providing end-of-life and respite care for children with life-limiting conditions, and support to their families while Special Olympics is a sports organisation for people with an intellectual disability and the focus of the partnership will be with the Leinster and the Eastern regions.

Leinster Rugby CEO Mick Dawson said: "This is the first time that we have reached out in this way to the community and invited applications from charitable organisations.

"We were overwhelmed with the response with 78 submissions received from charities both big and small but all deserving of our support.

"The CSR Committee had the unenviable task of filtering through these submissions, shortlisting a final eight and finally submitting to players, coaching staff and the wider Leinster Rugby family a final three.

"We are very happy that both LauraLynn and Special Olympics Leinster are on board for the season ahead.

"We believe that both charities will be able to benefit from this association and that the Leinster supporters and wider family will embrace these organisations and will support them in whatever way possible."

Leinster Rugby media manager and chair of the CSR Committee, Marcus Ó Buachalla, added: "It was an enormous challenge to select two charities from 78 proposals but we also saw it as an opportunity to reach out to other charities for the season ahead.

"The players, the coaches and all the staff in Leinster Rugby are looking forward to the year ahead with LauraLynn, Special Olympics Leinster and the possibilities that lie ahead for all the charities in question."

Further information on the charity partners, in addition to how your charity can apply for support from Leinster Rugby can be found at www.leinsterrugby.ie/charitypartners