The reason to why Munster did not play yesterday was because
of the death of a Heniken Cup winner and Munster Legend died last knight
Anthony Foley. Foley was an Irish and Munster Legend and will be remembered by
a lot of people from that part of the world.
Anthony Gerard Foley (30 October 1973 – 16 October 2016) was
an Irish rugby union player and head coach of Munster. He was attached to the
same squad during his professional playing career. He was a member of the
Munster team that won the 2002–03 Celtic League and was the winning captain
during their 2005–06 Heineken Cup success. Foley played for Ireland from 1995
to 2005, and captained the squad on three separate occasions.
Club career
Foley made his professional debut for Munster against
Swansea in November 1995, a game that was also Munster's first ever Heineken
Cup fixture. He was in the Munster team that lost 8–9 to Northampton Saints in
the 2000 Heineken Cup Final and was again the runner-up when Munster lost 15–9
to Leicester Tigers in the 2002 Heineken Cup Final. Foley was finally on the
winning side when Munster won the 2002–03 Celtic League
When Mick Galwey resigned as Munster captain, Foley narrowly
lost to Jim Williams in a vote to decide the next captain. When Williams left
Munster in 2005, Foley became the new captain, and in his first season in the
position, he led Munster to victory over Biarritz Olympique in the 2006
Heineken Cup Final] Foley had played in all but one of Munster's first 78
Heineken Cup games until a shoulder injury sustained during Munster's 21–19
victory over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road in their first game of the
2006–07 Heineken Cup caused him to miss his sides subsequent victory over
Bourgoin, as well as back-to-back games against Cardiff in December 2006.
He stood down as captain at the beginning of the 2007–08
season, making way for Paul O'Connell. He was dropped for Munster's final
fixtures of the 2007–08 Heineken Cup, and announced his retirement for the end
of the season.
International career
Foley made his debut for Ireland against England in the 1995
Five Nations Championship on 21 January 1995. He scored a try on his debut in
an 8-20 defeat. He went to the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, an played
in one pool game against Japan.He missed the 1999 Rugby World Cup, but was
selected for the 2003 Rugby World Cup, featuring in two of the pool games
against Romania and Australia.
Foley captained Ireland three times: in 2001 against Samoa,
and in 2002 against Romania and Georgia. His last international was against
Wales in the 2005 Six Nations
Coaching career[edit]
In March 2011, it was announced that Foley would take over
as Munster forwards coach at the end of the 2011 season.[16] He temporarily
replaced Gert Smal as Ireland's forwards coach during the 2012 Six Nations
Championship, after Smal was forced to miss the remainder of the tournament
with an eye condition. Foley signed a contract extension with Munster in May 2013.
The following year it was announced that Foley would succeed Rob Penney as
Munster's head coach, signing a two-year contract that began on 1 July
2014.[20]
Personal life and death
He was married to Olive; the couple had two children. His
father Brendan Foley and sister Rosie Foley (fr) also played rugby for Ireland.
Foley played Gaelic football for his local GAA club Smith O'Briens in the
parish of Killaloe, Co. Clare. He lined out for Smith O'Briens GAA club in a
Munster junior club football semi-final in 2010. He played inter-county hurling
for Clare at underage level alongside former Munster rugby player Keith Wood.
Foley died suddenly on 16 October 2016, while in Paris with
Munster. The team was preparing to face Racing 92 in its opening game of the
2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup. The match was postponed as a result of
Foley's death.
Honours
Munster
Heineken Cup:
Winner (1): 2005–06
Celtic League:
Winner (1): 2002–03
Celtic Cup:
Winner (1): 2004–05
Ireland[edit]
Triple Crown:
Winner (1): 2004
As Munster say goodbye to a Legend let’s hope that it help-s
to create a new type of Legend around Munster. A legend that Munster had a few years
ago and that was a thing that made Munster very hard to beat. It is never right
for someone to die so young.
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