“It is family to me.”

It is the day of a huge clash: Leinster versus Harlequins. We’re here in Croke Park, with a capacity of just over 82,000 people.

But right now, at this early hour on Saturday morning, there are barely a dozen people walking amongst the aisles.

They are laying out blue flags on the chairs, they are chatting, making inside jokes, their laughter echoing around the otherwise empty arena.

In a recent study, it was revealed that over one million adults in Ireland feel disconnected from those around them.

But here today, the members of the Official Leinster Supporters Club (OLSC) have found their tribe, working and laughing together, completely behind the scenes, entirely unseen by the general public. When we talk to Alan Mooney, President of the OLSC, he tells us:

“I think it's really a sense of community, a sense of friendship, and a sense of belonging. It's like a group of friends meeting up, week in, week out, and just coming together and enjoying the activities, enjoying the rugby. But just being together and getting to have a laugh, and just getting to follow Leinster Rugby.”

While there is absolutely an issue regarding loneliness when it comes to older people, it can powerfully affect people of any age – in that same study, the research showed that those under 44 were the most lonely age group.

However, looking around at the cohort laying out the flags at the stadium, the one thing that truly jumps out is that there is no set demographic: it is fans of all ages, genders, and nationalities. The two things they all have in common? They all love Leinster, and they all love rugby.

Rachel Martin, who travels up from Wexford for each and every match, says: “I’ve been [coming to games] since I was knee high to a grasshopper, and then I started [in the OLSC] about four years ago. Me and my Dad have been hooked ever since, and we’re always waiting for the day to be back with the gang!”

The stadium is all flagged up, time to move the preparation outside.

The streets surrounding Croke Park have dozens, maybe hundreds, of flags attached to the poles leading off as far as the eye can see in every direction.

The team bus is set to arrive, and the OLSC have been handing out the flags to the fans who are waiting for the players to pass by -

“Bringing the sea of blue wherever you are!”

One OLSC member, Haiyu Ibrahim, talks to us about her personal journey with the team:

“When you’re in a new country, and you’re trying to find yourself, and trying to adapt and all of that. I found rugby. I didn’t know Leinster then, there were four provinces that I didn’t even know then.”

“15 years later, I have met this bunch of people that just keeps you coming back for more. It is family to me. It is what has kept me in Ireland all of these years.”

That word – family – comes up again and again.

Everyone we talk to in the OLSC is so incredibly happy to be here, more than happy to give up their free time to support the team they love in any way that they can.

For them, it isn’t just about the 80 minutes on the pitch; it is about the lifelong friendships made.

As one volunteer puts it, this experience goes beyond community, it is almost creating a new family, and one that is always open to inviting new members.

For anyone who might want to get involved, the advice across the board is unanimous, as Brian Connolly puts it:

“Just try it! Come along! You don’t have to commit to be here every week. If you can give a few hours, a couple of games a year, it all helps!”

Alan adds: “If you’re looking to be a part of this community, send us an email at OLSC@leinsterrugby.ie, check out any of our social media pages, drop up and say hello to any of us, any member, and we’ll be happy to have you as a member of our community.”

By the way, that game against Harlequins?

Leinster won 62-0. Did that vision of the sea of blue surge the home team along to that astonishing victory?

Who can say for sure, but having that kind of support certainly didn’t hurt…

To foster connection and in light of the insight that most people believe that sport can be a powerful way to help combat loneliness, laya healthcare have given away hundreds of match tickets across all provincial partnerships throughout the season, and plan to implement more initiatives, under the banner of ‘We Are one. Always’.

These initiatives include supporter events and programmes tailored to specifically encourage former or new fans to reconnect, attend games, and much more.
For more information, visit www.layahealthcare.ie/sponsorship/rugby/

*Findings based on a nationally representative study of 1,000 completed by Spark Research, June 2024. Population figures of CSO population statistics for June 2024.

The community built entirely by Leinster supporters and volunteers.