For 10 years, Peter Stringer and Anthony Foley battled together in the red of Munster.
Number nine on the back of the scrumhalf. Number eight made iconic by Axel.
It was a relationship built on passion and fire, one which saw them go to war for their country together.
Peter Stringer made the journey back to his native province on Friday to bid farewell to an old friend and to mark his respects to one Anthony Foley, a legend of Munster rugby.
In his own way though, he honoured the memory of his former team mate by getting back onto a jet so he could line out for a Champions Cup match just hours later.
In the morning, Stringer was in Clare. Later that afternoon, he was back in Greater Manchester preparing to line out with Sale Sharks against Toulon.
Sale lost 15-5 in the end but it wasn’t the real story. In a weekend that Irish rugby marks the time of one of its best, Stringer played his own part and, for him, that was getting back onto the field the way an old warrior would’ve wanted him to.
“The funeral was today [Friday]. Strings made it clear that he wouldn’t miss the funeral but he also didn’t want to miss the game,” Sale coach Steven Diamond told BT Sport.
“Ged Mason, the new owner, put on a private plane and we whipped him in and out. He said Anthony Foley would have wanted him to play tonight. He’s got his own motivations from his friendship there.”
Stringer played the whole 80 minutes. Of course he did.
In the latest GAA Hour, we talk to Ken McGrath of Waterford and with Declan Brennan about a new club players’ association.
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