"He took up that ball and took Munster Rugby to places they never dreamed they would be."
Stuart Barnes summed up the legacy of Anthony 'Axel' Foley on Munster Rugby following
his tragic, sudden passing at the age of 42.
Foley passed away in a Parisian hotel, last night, where the Munster team was staying ahead of a now postponed match with Racing 92. The province, and Foley's bereaved family, have asked for privacy at this difficult time.
https://twitter.com/Munsterrugby/status/787635774955085825
Sky Sports broke the news to their viewers at half-time of Ulster's Champions Cup match with Bordeaux. Alan Quinlan, who was in the Sky studio, left as soon as he heard the awful news so it was left to former Ireland international Tyrone Howe and Barnes to pay their tributes.
The rugby world took to Twitter to somehow try and express their deep, desperate sense of loss.
Shannon, his former club, paid tribute:
https://twitter.com/shannonrfc/status/787637019996463104
Former Munster and Ireland teammate
Frankie Sheehan recalled the good times while acknowledging the bad.
https://twitter.com/FrankieSheahan/status/787640182380040192
French rugby legend
Thierry Dusautoir was one of the first to pass on his condolences. He wrote [translated]: 'Very sad to hear the death of Anthony Foley of Munster. A great player and opponent! My thoughts go out to his family.'
https://twitter.com/TitiDusautoir/status/787638063010840576
Axel shared many a battle with Welsh flanker
Martyn Williams over the years.
https://twitter.com/martynewilliams/status/787641577099366400
Kerry GAA legend
Tomás O Sé passed on his wishes.
https://twitter.com/tomas5ky/status/787637387568570368
RTE's head of sport
Ryle Nugent bore witness to some of Foley's finest deeds on the rugby field.
https://twitter.com/RyleNugentRTE/status/787642429151277056
Sebastien Chabal was left reeling by the news.
https://twitter.com/sebchabal/status/787641493355950081
But it was the reaction of everyday rugby supporters that summed up the positive impact Foley had on the game, the province of Munster and the country of Ireland.
https://twitter.com/Mark6R/status/787642708840046592
https://twitter.com/Aoifs1985/status/787639891014328324
https://twitter.com/eimearhurley/status/787635066113523712
https://twitter.com/twitchingphil/status/787644903400636416
This will take a long time to truly sink in.
A legend has left us.
