Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson has stressed to supporters how vital their take-up of a new official membership scheme for next season is to the club.
The PRO14 champions have cancelled their season ticket renewals for 2020/21 on the back of the social distancing regulations that are expected to remain in place.
The other provinces followed suit - including Ulster today.
But having consulted with the Official Leinster Supporters Club, the Blues have today launched a new membership scheme costing €120 that it is hoped will allay some of the heavy costs involved in rugby's shutdown.
Credit from the 2019/20 season can be put towards official membership.
“Last Friday’s announcement by the Government was another hugely positive step in the right direction and hopefully that continues in the coming weeks and months," said Dawson.
"But the reality is that we are still some way short of offering full houses in a safe environment for our supporters and staff.
“Without match day revenue and season ticket sales, the club is taking a significant financial hit so this offering will allow us to offset some of that loss.
“We have worked closely with the OLSC on this, and with season ticket holders through the online survey last week.
"And the official membership gives us what we believe to be a fair and equitable way of distributing what tickets do come available next season for each game to our season ticket holders.
“This won’t suit all and we are very conscious that some supporters for a variety of reasons may wish to sit this one out.
"And if that’s the case, we would like to assure them that their seat is secure for another year, that they don’t need to do anything but we look forward to seeing them hopefully back at the RDS Arena for the 2021/22 season.”
Official membership will firstly be available exclusively to current season ticket holders, with the province outlining a number of benefits that will be available, including entering a lottery for 6 Nations tickets.
Match tickets for the 2021/21 that become available will only be available to members of the scheme, while
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: “All our efforts will now be invested in representing the club and the supporters and hopefully finishing out the season on the field as best we can.
"We all look forward to running out in front of a packed RDS someday again, but for now, we’ll continue to play our part and continue to adhere to the guidelines around social distancing".
Subject to availability, official membership will be open to the public from Monday, July 6 and a waiting list has been created on leinsterrugby.ie for those interested in applying should they become available.
However only current season ticket holders who avail of the membership will be entered into the draw for for the 6 Nations tickets.
