Tributes paid after sudden death

Rugby fans and members of the public are paying personal tributes to former Ireland and Munster star Anthony Foley.

The 42-year-old head coach was found dead in the province’s team hotel in Paris on Sunday – hours before the team were due to take to the pitch in the European Champions Cup.

As messages of sympathy flooded in from the world of sport and beyond, books of condolence were being opened across Munster and Irish flags were lowered to half-mast.

A makeshift shrine was also formed at the gates of Thomond Park, home of Munster Rugby, where Foley had some of his finest performances.

“Axel” Foley, a back-row and fan favourite No 8, was a recordbreaking try-scorer in his days in the red jersey.

Foley played for Ireland 62 times, scoring a try against England on his debut in 1995 in the Five Nations, as it was then.

He also led Munster to their first European Cup victory in 2006 after years of heartbreak in top flight competition.

Within a couple of years he was central to the province’s repeat success.

Foley scored 39 tries for his province and made 86 appearances in European competition before taking on backroom roles from 2009 and being named head coach in 2014.

He is survived by his wife, Olive, and their children.

Among the grief-stricken messages posted online in the wake of Foley’s death were some from former Munster team-mates.

Record-breaking Ireland No 10 Ronan O’Gara wrote: “Alone on the couch with Jess. Heartbroken. We have lost an incredible man. Too sad to tweet further ... sleep well Axel. We love you. xxx.”

Anthony Foley.