Respected European Rugby Coach Dies at 42

This past Sunday Munster Rugby coach Anthony Foley was found dead in his Paris hotel room just hours ahead of his team’s match against Racing 42 in the opening game of the 2016-2017 European Rugby Champions Cup. He was 42, and was team coach of Munster Rugby since 2014.

Foley was a highly successful Irish rugby player that was an integral part of the rise of professional Irish rugby teams in Europe. After Europe’s rugby board declared rugby an “open” game in August of 1995, removing all restrictions on payments and benefits associated with the game, club teams, such as in the case of Munster and other Irish provincial clubs, professionalized from amatuer local teams into international organizations of elite athletes. It was that first year of Irish professional rugby teams that Foley began his rugby career with his professional debut in the Munster rugby club in the November 1995 game against Swansea, which was also Munsters first game in the Heineken Cup, the predecessor of the European Champions Cup.

Beginning in 1999, Munster went on to qualify for the playoffs for eight consecutive years. Munster reached the finals twice until Foley, in his first year as team captain, led the team to finally winning the trophy 2006 against the French team Biarritz. Foley stood down as team captain in the 2007-2008 season, and announced his retirement soon after.

Also in 1995 he began his international career with Ireland National team against England in the 1995 Five Nations Championship. During his international career from 1995 to 2005 he played 62 times, and captained the team three separate seasons. However, Foley only remained with Ireland until 2005, preferring to focus on his career with Munster.

In March of 2011 Foley came back to Munster as the forwards coach, coaching the positions he played in. He also acted as a substitute forwards coach for Ireland during the 2012 Six Nations Championship. In 2014 it was announced that Foley would become Munster’s head coach.

On October 16th, Foley died in his sleep in his Paris hotel room just before Munster’s match against the French team Racing 42. His death was ruled a natural death due to heart disease. Irish flags at government buildings in Munster flew at half-mast in his honor.

Foley was widely regarded as a respected and loved rugby player by teammates, opponents, and fans alike. Munster teammate Keith wood said Foley was “...the smartest rugby player I have ever had the honor of playing with or against.”

In addition to his exceptional rugby career, Foley was described as a caring and loving father and husband. Father Pat Malone, Clarecastle parish priest, family friend, and next-door neighbor, described him as a “wonderful family man.”

“He was a man who lived life with dignity and personal and professional integrity.”

Thousands lined the streets of Limerick’s Thomond Park, where Foley played for Munster, to pay their respects to Foley, where his funeral procession made their only stop after Shannon Airport before returning him to his home in Killaloe on Wednesday.

His funeral was held Friday as Irish rugby stars, past and present, turned out among other high profile Irish leaders, such as Irish Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, Minister for Housing Simon Coveney, and political leader Micheál Martin, to pay respect to a national figure. To honor one of Ireland’s most famed rugby players, radio stations across the small island nation played the Irish rugby anthem ‘The Fields of Athenry’ simultaneously at noon at the commencement of the funeral.

"I am fairly certain God could do with a top class number 8" said Father Malone.