Sunday 16 October 2016 18:32, UK
Stuart Barnes led the tributes to Munster coach and Ireland great Anthony Foley, who has died at the age of 42.
The Irish Rugby Football Union reported on Sunday that Foley had been found dead at Munster's team hotel in Paris, where they were preparing for Sunday's European Champions Cup clash with Racing 92.
Foley won 62 caps for Ireland, captaining the side at times, and played more than 200 times for the province before taking over as their forwards coach in 2011.
He took over from Rob Penney as head coach in 2014 and helped Munster finish second in the Guinness PRO12 in their first season, beaten by Glasgow in the final.
Barnes was due to be part of the Sky Sports commentary team for the game at the Stade Yves-de-Manoir, which was called off after the news broke, and he admitted Foley's death was tough to come to terms with.
He said: There is an aura settling over this ground of real sadness. I was listening to Tyrone (Howe's) words [in the studio] there - as a rugby community, in Ireland, in Munster this is going to hurt, but none more so than Anthony's family.
"This is one of the great men of recent Irish rugby.
"This is a European Champions Cup day and Anthony would probably think of it as a Heineken Cup day. When there was the first 15 years of this tournament completed, we sat down and asked what is the best team of them all and Anthony Foley beat the likes of Lawrence Dallaglio to be the No 8.
"Along with men like Paul O'Connell and Ronan O'Gara, now coaching at Racing 92, Foley was a fulcrum point in that greatest of Munster teams.
"I heard Tyrone talking about the bloke he was - I didn't know him as well as Tyrone but every time I met him, it didn't matter whether you criticised him in the press or in commentary he would shake your hand - a big firm handshake - and have a pint with you afterwards.
"An uncomplicated man who became an integral part of the Munster coaching team. It's a hammer blow for Munster, for Ireland and for rugby - he is too soon gone."
Howe played with Foley during his international career and came up against him on a number of occasions for Ulster, and he said the news was tough to come to terms with.
He said: "It's very hard to find words. Forgetting rugby, what I remember about Anthony is twinkling eyes and smile, and a great sense of fun, He would get the giggles and everybody would giggle with him.
"He was a big, big man. Not one created in a gym, genuinely a big guy and he was big in every way - personalily, sense of humour and generous to a fault.
"In Ireland, the four provinces try to beat the living daylights out of each other when it comes to being on the pitch but it's a big family and Anthony, with his dad Brendan, are Munster royalty. In terms of shock, the things that come to me are about the bloke himself - a magnificent bloke and a magnificent rugby player."
