The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Glasgow to face Munster wave of emotion
Irish side mourning coach Foley
Glasgow Warriors coach Gregor Townsend has paid tribute to Anthony Foley as he prepares his side to face Munster on Saturday.
The Irish side’s head coach died aged 42 at the team hotel in Paris last Saturday night before the match against Racing 92 the following day, which was postponed.
Foley’s funeral will be held in County Clare tomorrow and tournament organisers have confirmed Munster’s European Champions Cup pool game against Warriors in Limerick will be played on Saturday.
Glasgow’s head coach Townsend first met Foley when they faced each other as schoolboys and he paid tribute to the former back row forwardwhoplayed 62 times for Ireland.
“Ithasbeenatoughweek for world rugby,” said the former Scotland player.
“You saw the reaction from all over the world, not just in rugby but in sport.
“It is such a loss for our game, a huge loss forMunster rugby so our thoughts go with them and Anthony’s family.
“Munster was probably the team that shaped the Champions Cup for what it is today.
“Winning away from home, winning in France, getting to finals, winning big games in those finals and having huge travelling support.
“In that period I was fortunate enough, I was playing for Castres and we played Munster five times over two seasons and Anthony was a key player for them.
“We played against each other a number of times.
“We played each other in the schoolboy teams a long
“Our players appreciate the enormity of what has happened”
time ago, the Munster games and Ireland.
“He was aggressive and intelligent. A really good modern number eight with a great ball-carrying side to his game.
“I was looking forward to catching up with him. He was always very good after games whether Munster won or we won.
“As I got to know him more as coaches he would always come up and chat and be honest and share what was going on in his world as a coach.”
A French coroner announced Foley died due to a heart condition which led to a build-up of fluid in his lungs. Townsend knows there will be a lot of emotion at Thomond Park on Saturday. “I think it is a gameto remember what Anthony didandhelp create atMunster,” he said.
“He was one of the key players who got them success and he was also a very good coach.
“We always knew it was going tobeahugeoccasion. Munster in the Champions Cup are a different team. They play at a much more intense level.
“It will be a huge game in terms of crowd support. Our players appreciate the enormity of what has happened and being involved in the game will hopefully bring out the best in both teams.”