NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport

Rugby: French authorities launch investigation into Anthony Foley's death

Daily Telegraph UK
18 Oct, 2016 02:57 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Munster Rugby fans place tributes outside Thomond Park after the death of head coach Anthony Foley, in Limerick, Ireland. Photo / AP

Munster Rugby fans place tributes outside Thomond Park after the death of head coach Anthony Foley, in Limerick, Ireland. Photo / AP

French authorities were yesterday carrying out an investigation into the death of Munster head coach Anthony Foley at the Novotel Hotel in Suresnes in west Paris, and the results of the autopsy, which should reveal the cause and time of his death, could be known tomorrow.

Tributes continued to flow in for the former Ireland player yesterday as European Professional Club Rugby, the organiser of the Champions Cup, said it would be guided by Munster over the rescheduling of fixtures following Foley's death.

The Munster squad returned to Limerick late on Sunday and ­players and supporters visited the ­makeshift shrine erected at the gates of Thomond Park to the 42-year-old, who was found dead in his hotel room just hours before the match against Racing 92 was due to take place.

Books of condolence were opened at council offices across Limerick, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford as well as at Limerick University and Shannon RFC, Foley's former club, as thousands queued to pay their respects.

Emotions were understandably still too raw yesterday for any decision to be taken about whether Munster's match against Glasgow Warriors, which is scheduled to take place at Thomond Park on Saturday, will go ahead.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It is unlikely that any decision will be made until Foley's remains are returned to Ireland and a funeral organised, making it unlikely that game will go ahead, although a decision will not be taken until later in the week.

Sunday's match against Racing was postponed and it is understood that EPCR will make every provision possible to accommodate a second postponement, irrespective of the pressure it will put on the fixture schedule.

Last season five games were postponed in France in the wake of the Paris attacks in November and even though the fixture schedule had already been squeezed to accommodate the World Cup, the French, English and Pro12 leagues managed to reorganise so that the games could take place last January, ahead of the final two rounds of the pool stages.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Those decisions, though, are for another day. The rugby community is still coming to terms with the shock, with former team-mates continuing to express disbelief.

Ronan O'Gara, the former Munster and Ireland fly-half who won two Heineken Cups and a Triple Crown with Ireland with Foley and who is now part of the Racing coaching team, 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."

Peter Stringer, the scrum-half who played alongside Foley throughout his career with ­

Munster and Ireland, wrote: "Feeling numb and alone with only thoughts of this remarkable man. My protector on the field, I will miss you forever."

Discover more

Rugby

Rugby: Pocock prepares for 'huge challenge'

17 Oct 11:24 PM
All Blacks

Aaron Smith's replacement revealed

18 Oct 01:54 AM
All Blacks

All Blacks motivated for place in history

18 Oct 02:18 AM
All Blacks

Fresh All Blacks target new frontier

18 Oct 02:32 AM

Tyrone Howe, the former Ulster, Ireland and Lions wing, who had been appearing on Sky Sports on Sunday when news of Foley's death broke, last night delivered a moving tribute to the Munsterman, with and against whom he had played for more than 15 years.

"It feels as if time has stood still in the last 24 hours since the news of Anthony Foley's tragic death - the sense of deep shock and sheer disbelief is all too palpable," Howe told The Daily Telegraph.

"What I do know is that friends of mine, grown men and outstanding individuals in their own right, spent yesterday afternoon in tears. History books will record Axel's rugby legacy and the roll call of his achievements is remarkable - the record of a true rugby giant.

"Yet, the common thread running through all the text messages and phone calls has been about what a magnificent human being he was. His overwhelming sense of fun was infectious.

"His eyes would crinkle up alongside an impish boyish grin and everyone would be in stitches. He was brilliant company and amidst the intense pressure of elite sport he made you feel good about yourself.

"Not that he stood for nonsense or any dropping of standards. Whether in training or on the pitch he demanded the best and spoke with passion and clarity.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"And you knew that he meant every word because such was his rugby intelligence that he understood exactly what was needed at that very moment.

"He personified the 'Stand Up And Fight' spirit of Munster rugby and played a leading role in turning Thomond Park into one of the great citadels of world rugby. Above all, his ultra competitive spirit was founded on the most solid of core values, of which family was at the heart.

"In the Irish provinces we are a feisty bunch but Axel has reminded us that, above all, we are a family.We are hurting because one of our own is gone. He touched so many lives and we grieve together with the Foley family at this incredibly sad time.

"Irish by birth, Munster by the grace of God - Axel was the truest of Munstermen."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

WarriorsUpdated

Understrength Panthers beat Warriors

21 Jun 06:45 AM
live
Super Rugby

Crusaders and Chiefs clash for Super Rugby title

21 Jun 06:45 AM
America's Cup

'Only a matter of time': How Burling signing shakes up AmCup

21 Jun 04:42 AM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Understrength Panthers beat Warriors

Understrength Panthers beat Warriors

21 Jun 06:45 AM

The Panthers have beaten the Warriors in their first trip to Auckland in six years.

Crusaders and Chiefs clash for Super Rugby title
live

Crusaders and Chiefs clash for Super Rugby title

21 Jun 06:45 AM
'Only a matter of time': How Burling signing shakes up AmCup

'Only a matter of time': How Burling signing shakes up AmCup

21 Jun 04:42 AM
Kiwi Alker leads PGA Tour Champions major

Kiwi Alker leads PGA Tour Champions major

21 Jun 02:57 AM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP