European nights are always significant occasions for Munster, but this Saturday will be especially poignant. Friday marks 10 years since the death of Anthony Foley, and the province will honor its former captain and head coach during their Investec Champions Cup clash with Racing 92 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Anthony Foley (Credits: BBC Sport)
Ten Years Without ‘Axel’
Foley — affectionately known as ‘Axel’ — was Munster’s head coach in October 2016 when, the night before a Champions Cup tie against Racing 92 in Paris, he died suddenly in his sleep at just 42. A heart condition had caused fluid to build up in his lungs. Coincidentally, Saturday’s tribute game pits Munster against Racing once again.
His playing career was the stuff of legend. Limerick-born Foley made his Munster debut in 1994 and went on to make 201 appearances, including 86 in the European Cup. He captained the province to the 2006 Heineken Cup, won five All-Ireland League titles with Shannon, earned 62 Ireland caps, and was instrumental to Ireland’s 2004 Triple Crown-winning Six Nations campaign.
After retiring in 2008 he joined Munster’s backroom staff as a technical adviser, became forwards coach in 2011, and replaced Rob Penney as head coach three years later. His son-of-a-former-Ireland-international roots — his father Brendan also played for Ireland — made him Munster to the core.
Still in the Building
A decade on, Foley has never been far from Munster minds. Speaking on Tuesday, defence coach Denis Leamy — Foley’s team-mate for the province’s 2006 and 2008 European triumphs — said his former captain’s memory is at the forefront of everyone’s mind this week. He described Foley as uncompromising, a player whose belief in the jersey was unbelievable, and who gave confidence to everyone around him.
Current captain Tadhg Beirne, who arrived at the club in 2018, said some of Foley’s quotes and actions are still spoken about in meetings around the building — a testament to the man. Peter O’Mahony, Munster’s captain when Foley passed away, admitted losing his mentor still feels tough to talk about ten years on, and that it changed him as a person.
As part of Saturday’s tribute, the Munster players will wear commemorative presentation jackets featuring the club crest and the number eight — Foley’s position. It will be an emotional night in Cork as Munster try to do justice to the memory of a true great.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
