Anthony Foley

by **Notch** Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:47 pm

A huge shock for Irish Rugby as some terrible news has broken;

It is with deep regret that the Irish Rugby Football Union and Munster Rugby must advise of the passing overnight of Munster Rugby head coach Anthony Foley, at the team hotel in Paris.

Munster Rugby management are liaising directly with Anthony's family and will provide them with any assistance and support required.
Thr IRFU and Munster Rugby pass on our deepest sympathies to all of Anthony's family and friends and ask for privacy for the family at this sad time.

As a mark of respect to Anthony and his family and to support players, management and staff, Muster Rugby have requested that today's match against Racing 92 be rescheduled.

Munster Rugby thank Racing 92, EPCR, broadcasters and partners, and the many fans who travelled to Paris for their understanding and support at this time.

I have started this thread so that the 606v2 rugby community can leave their most sincere condolences to Anthony Foleys family, friends, former team mates as well as the entire Munster Rugby playing and coaching squad, the Munster rugby community and the Irish Rugby community more generally.

If you so wish, you may leave your condolences and thoughts below.

Anthony Foley Foley_cup_rdax_365x365_80

by eirebilly Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:50 pm

Words escaping me, I really cannot believe this. Absolutely shocked.

RIP Axle

by asoreleftshoulder Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:50 pm

Horrible news,sympathies to his family.I'm stunned.

by neilthom7 Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:51 pm

This is unbelievable news, stunned. RIP

by **Notch** Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:52 pm

Oh God. Alan Quinlan is getting this news as he covers the Ulster match live.

This is awful.

by yappysnap Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:53 pm

Shocked by this. My thoughts are with his family and friends

by **Rugby Fan** Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:54 pm

Just seen the terrible news now. Hope everyone gets time and space to deal with the shock.

by mikey_dragon Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:54 pm

Just heard during the Ulster game. RIP Foley, Munster legend. Munster game postponed understandably, thoughts are with you Irish as I know he was regarded in high esteem across Ireland rugby.

by **Notch** Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:55 pm

Tyrone Howe is nearly in tears on Sky live right now and I'm getting there too.

He was a giant of the game in this country.

by Welly Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:56 pm

Devastating.

Munster, Irish and European legend.

by mikey_dragon Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:58 pm

Notch wrote:Oh God. Alan Quinlan is getting this news as he covers the Ulster match live.

This is awful.

He had to leave the studio didn't he?

by **Notch** Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:58 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:
Notch wrote:Oh God. Alan Quinlan is getting this news as he covers the Ulster match live.

This is awful.

He had to leave the studio didn't he?

Understandably so, yes. My thoughts are with him.

by Heaf Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:59 pm

Terrible news - thoughts with friends and family. No words for this.

by Guest Sun 16 Oct 2016, 1:59 pm

Horrible news. Devastating for all who knew and loved him. A Munster and Ireland legend. Thoughts are with family, friends and Munster fans.

by wolfball Sun 16 Oct 2016, 2:07 pm

Shocked and deeply saddened. I saw the news and couldn't believe it. RIP Anthony.

by **RDW** Sun 16 Oct 2016, 2:14 pm

This is devastating news - incredibly sad day for Munster and Irish rugby, not to mention the whole wider community.

by BamBam Sun 16 Oct 2016, 2:16 pm

I'm stunned, horrific news

RIP

by maestegmafia Sun 16 Oct 2016, 2:20 pm

Such sad news

Does anyone know what happened or why?

by **profitius** Sun 16 Oct 2016, 2:21 pm

RIP Axel.

by No9 Sun 16 Oct 2016, 2:27 pm

Words aren't enough..

rose

RIP

Puts it into perspective doesn't it..

Thoughts are with family and friends.

by Pete330v2 Sun 16 Oct 2016, 2:33 pm

Lost for words.
RIP big man.

by doctor_grey Sun 16 Oct 2016, 2:46 pm

Shock. Always worse when sudden for no apparent reason. Hopefully peaceful.........

by **George Carlin** Sun 16 Oct 2016, 2:47 pm

Unbelievable. Horrible shock - this now front page on BBC Sport.

Deepest sympathies to everyone at the club and especially his family - cannot imagine what they're thinking at the moment.

A true rugby man in the best sense of that word.

by whocares Sun 16 Oct 2016, 2:59 pm

Rest in Peace Mr Foley. Terrible news.
My thoughts are with all his family, Munster and Irish fans.

by **RDW** Sun 16 Oct 2016, 3:06 pm

Fair play to Tyrone Holmes for speaking so eloquently - that can't have been easy

https://www.balls.ie/rugby/anthony-foley-tribute/348983

by SecretFly Sun 16 Oct 2016, 3:18 pm

Very sad occasion. Feel gutted and empty. That has certainly dropped a heavy cloud onto what was up to then a good weekend for Irish rugby. Now all that's in my head is the man, Anthony Foley, and his far too short a life.

by funnyExiledScot Sun 16 Oct 2016, 3:21 pm

Awful and shocking news. Thoughts are with his family.

by toml Sun 16 Oct 2016, 3:27 pm

Thanks for the memories Big Man. Hope his children grow up knowing what a great man their dad was.

by stub Sun 16 Oct 2016, 3:29 pm

Shocking news - condolences to all who are close to him.

by nathan Sun 16 Oct 2016, 3:34 pm

It's time like this that you realise how precious life is. RIP to this great man

by TheMildlyFranticLlama Sun 16 Oct 2016, 3:36 pm

What utterly terrible news, thoughts are with all those affected. RIP.

by **RiscaGame** Sun 16 Oct 2016, 3:40 pm

This is awful news. Was genuinely shocked by this.

by bsando Sun 16 Oct 2016, 4:31 pm

Very sad and shocking news. Thoughts are with his wife and three children as well as the friends, coaches and players who knew him best. RIP rose

by aucklandlaurie Sun 16 Oct 2016, 7:21 pm

Devastating news, just bloody devastating.

by ScarletSpiderman Sun 16 Oct 2016, 10:32 pm

Really sad news to hear. Thoughts go out to his relatives and friends

by No 7&1/2 Mon 17 Oct 2016, 8:16 am

Horrible and shocking news. Really can't find the words.

by Irish Londoner Mon 17 Oct 2016, 8:36 am

Terrible news and at such a young age, must be terrible for his family.
Thanks for the memories Axel.
R.I.P.

by westisbest Mon 17 Oct 2016, 10:08 am

Very sad and shocked to hear the news yesterday.

RIP
Thoughts go to his family and friends.

by thebandwagonsociety Mon 17 Oct 2016, 10:25 am

News like this always puts things such as sport into perspective.
Thoughts and regards to his family, friends and club.
Taken from us at such a young age, it's a tribute to the man just how diverse the tributes from the people he touched.

by The Great Aukster Mon 17 Oct 2016, 1:52 pm

This year full of sad news just got worse. I can't imagine what Munster fans or his friends and family are feeling because Axel's sudden death feels devastating enough to me - my sympathy goes to you all.

by maestegmafia Mon 17 Oct 2016, 6:04 pm

Been great to read so many fitting tributes to a man who epitomises the culture of our game.

Far too short a life but one lived fulfilling the dreams of so many in such a short time.

Although such sad news it makes me reflect what a wonderful game we enjoy so full of characters and personalities that although a family has lost a son, a father and a husband his memory will never be lost to those who loved him.

by Portnoy's Complaint Mon 17 Oct 2016, 6:14 pm

I'm no longer a regular contributor to the forum, but I have to add myself to the llist of 606ers who have felt saddness and respect to a young man cut down so young.

RIP.

And heartfelt condolences to his wife, his family and friends.

by Rory_Gallagher Mon 17 Oct 2016, 6:36 pm

It is a total shock. A wife and two sons left behind. Awful. Has anything been said about what actually happened? Heart attack? It is just so unexpected and confusing.

by **Notch** Mon 17 Oct 2016, 9:14 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:It is a total shock. A wife and two sons left behind. Awful. Has anything been said about what actually happened? Heart attack? It is just so unexpected and confusing.

Nothing has been said, and that may very well be at the behest of the family. If it comes out into the public domain it will be at a time of their choosing I would imagine.

by **Notch** Mon 17 Oct 2016, 9:56 pm

Anthony Foleys family have released a statement;

The family of Anthony Foley wishes to extend its deepest appreciation to the endless legions of friends and the wider rugby family here and abroad for the huge outpouring of support and sympathy since Anthony’s tragic and most untimely passing at the weekend.With Anthony’s passing, we have ultimately lost an amazing, adoring and loving father and husband; an equally caring, loyal and devoted son and brother; a central and go-to figure for the wider Foley and Hogan families. Our anguish at the sudden loss of Anthony is bottomless. We have been plunged deep into an incomprehensible darkness and sense of loss that we must work our way through over the coming days, weeks, months and years.

We know, too, that his sudden death has brought the rugby worlds of Shannon RFC, Munster, Ireland and much further afield crashing down. You have lost a former player, coach, friend and all-round inspiration – your and our hero both. We mourn his loss together.

We again wish to thank everyone for their support; it will help carry us through these darkest days.

With regard to media, we thank you also for the sensitive way in which you have paid tribute to Anthony since the weekend but we do ask that our privacy and that of his close friends be respected over this tragic period.

by Rory_Gallagher Mon 17 Oct 2016, 10:15 pm

Tragic.

by maestegmafia Mon 17 Oct 2016, 10:34 pm

Apparently it was a heart attack.

by Cyril Mon 17 Oct 2016, 11:07 pm

Bit of a shock. Seemed like a nice guy. RIP.

Who will take over rebuilding Munster?

by **George Carlin** Tue 18 Oct 2016, 6:13 am

Very sorry to ask this and hopefully it's not an insensitive question as much as a completely practical one.

I have rellies who were planning to head over to Thomond for the next Champions Cup match on the 22nd and they have asked me if it is still going ahead. Does anyone close to the club have any sense whatsoever as to whether it will happen or not? I literally couldn't guess. Much appreciated.

by Sin é Tue 18 Oct 2016, 7:33 am

If I'm heartbroken at this news, I can't you imagine what it must be like for Axel's family - parents who should never outlive a child and for his wife Olive and two young sons and for his extended family, old team mates, friends and neighbours.

Some really moving tributes to him over the last few days which brought back a lot of great memories of a great Munster team. Well done to Sky as well, particularly Tyrone Howe, for their very sensitive coverage of Axel's passing.

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