Leinster Rugby have announced a first ever men's and women's double-header at Energia Park to kick start the Leinster season.
Leo Cullen’s defending Guinness PRO14 champions will play their first game of the Bank of Ireland Pre-Season Schedule against Coventry on Saturday, August 17 (kick-off 3.00 pm).
Following that at 5.30 pm Ben Armstrong’s defending Inter-provincial Women’s Champions will get the defence of their title underway against Connacht.
"It's going to be brilliant for the game," said Leinster centre Michelle Claffey.
"It's going to be a great display of women's rugby here in Donnybrook. We can just show what we have for the crowd that's going to be here.
"We'll have our friends, our family, our ususal supporters here and then the men's supporters can hang around and see how good we actually are as well."
"The girls can't wait," said women's head coach Ben Armstrong. "It's one of those things that we see Leinster really pushing the boat out for women's rugby.
"We're excited to be involved and it's nice that the men agreed to be the curtain-raiser for us."
Leinster Rugby men's team bound for Canada
Men's head coach Leo Cullen plans to give some of his young guns a run out and he would like to see a large support for both teams on a big day for the province.
"I think it's great for the development and progress of the game in Leinster, the fact that the men's team and the women's team are going to be playing here on the same day," said Cullen.
"It's a very, very positive step for us as a club and I know the women's team have been working very, very hard and it'll be a big occasion for them.
"So hopefully we'll get a decent crowd to come in and support both teams on the day."
After the friendly meeting with Coventry the men's team will fly out to Ontario for a week during which time they will take on the Canadian national team.
A group of 30 players are expected to travel and prop Ed Byrne feels it will be a crucial week in terms of new players getting to know the rest of the squad.
"There'll definitely be a few lads getting their first run out with the seniors and then it'll be a great week to have away with them and just get to know lads a bit better," said Byrne.
"I think that always happens on away trips like that. We saw it in South Africa for the last two years. People just get to know each other a bit better when you're living 24/7 with another person."
Bank of Ireland Pre-Season Schedule:
17th August 2019, Leinster Rugby v Coventry, Energia Park (KO: 3.00pm)
24th August 2019, Canada v Leinster Rugby, Tim Hortons Field (KO: TBC)
w/c 9th September 2019, 3rd Fixture TBC Later This Week
Irish Rugby Women's Interprovincial Schedule:
17th August 2019, Leinster Rugby v Connacht Rugby, Energia Park (KO: 5.30pm)
24th August 2019, Ulster Rugby v Leinster Rugby
31st August 2019, Munster Rugby v Leinster Rugby
Tickets are now on sale at leinsterrugby.ie with prices starting from €5 for junior tickets and €10 for adult tickets. One ticket serves both games.
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