Anthony Foley

Anthony Foley, who has died suddenly two weeks short of his 43rd birthday, was one of the most popular figures in Irish rugby and was described by his country’s president, Michael D Higgins, as “one of the great figures of Irish sport in the modern era”.

Foley played 62 times for Ireland between 1995 and 2005, captaining his country three times and scoring five tries.

A rugged back-row forward, he will always be remembered as a hero of Munster, being part of the team that won the Celtic League title in 2003 and led them to the European championship in 2006, having twice been a losing finalist in 2000 and 2002.

He played 202 times for Munster and was head coach of the province at the time of his death

He died in his sleep in the Paris hotel where the Munster squad was staying prior to the European championship match on Sunday against Racing Metro.

The match was postponed because of his death. Weeping Munster fans laid flowers on the pitch at the Yves du Manoir stadium and sang the Irish folk ballad The Fields of Athenry.

Foley was known to fans and fellow players as Axel, after the Eddie Murphy character in Beverly Hills Cop.

His father Brendan won 11 Irish caps and his sister Rosie played 39 times for Ireland women’s rugby team. Like his father, he was a product of Shannon rugby football club, for whom he played for 15 seasons and won the All Ireland League five times. Born October 30 1973, died October 16 2016