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Rugby

22nd Oct 2016

WATCH: Powerful scenes in Thomond Park as Munster give Anthony Foley the send-off he deserves

Farewell, Axel

Ben Kiely

The Munster faithful showed solidarity as they bid farewell to Anthony Foley on Saturday.

Foley died aged 42 in a Parisan hotel last weekend after suffering an acute pulmonary oedema caused by a heart condition.

A week after their coach’s unexpected passing, the province returned to Thomond Park to take on Glasgow Warriors in the Champions Cup. The fans made sure that this would be no ordinary occasion as they paid their respects to the iconic number eight, the man who lead them as a player and a coach.

Supporters in the West Stand at held up placards spelling out Foley’s nickname ‘Axel’ along with his number eight shirt. The Munster Rugby Supporters’ Club Choir took to the pitch to perform ‘There Is An Isle’, the anthem of Shannon RFC, before raising the roof with a powerful rendition of ‘Stand Up and Fight’.

The soul-stirring moment came just before 1 pm, when a minute’s silence was observed to mark his memory. You can watch all the wonderful tributes to the Munster legend from Thomond Park in the video embedded below.

 

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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