Munster to remember 'special' Foley 10 years after his death

European nights are invariably significant occasions for Munster, but this Saturday will be especially poignant as they remember one of the greats.

Friday marks 10 years since the death of Anthony Foley. With Munster in Paris before facing Racing 92, Foley - head coach at the time - died suddenly in his sleep aged 42 after a heart condition caused fluid to build up in his lungs.

Having captained Munster to the 2006 Heineken Cup during a stellar playing career that also yielded 62 Ireland caps, the outpouring of grief that followed his passing was remarkable.

Foley - affectionately known as 'Axel' - has never been far from Munster minds in the decade since, but his immense contributions to the province will be highlighted by a series of tributes during their Investec Champions Cup game on Saturday which, coincidentally, pits them against Racing.

As part of the tribute at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork, the Munster players will wear commemorative presentation jackets featuring the club crest and the number eight, Foley's position.

Speaking on Tuesday, Munster defence coach Denis Leamy - Foley's team-mate for the province's 2006 and 2008 European triumphs - said his former captain's memory is "to the forefront of everyone's mind" this week.

"He was iconic really," said Leamy.

"When I came in as a young player, he was already one of the big leaders within Munster and obviously playing for Ireland as well. He was hugely influential on me around my game, my mindset in terms of how you developed and what you brought in a Munster jersey.

"His belief in a Munster jersey was unbelievable. He didn't feel that in a Munster jersey we could be beaten. He was uncompromising, he gave belief to everyone around him and he was just a super player, a super team-mate.

"A very, very special person, very special player. It's tragic that he's not here anymore, but we'll try and do our very best on Saturday to do justice to his memory."

The son of former Ireland international Brendan Foley, Limerick-born 'Axel' made his Munster debut in 1994 and went on to make 201 appearances, including 86 in the European Cup.

He was instrumental to Ireland's 2004 Triple Crown-winning Six Nations campaign and won five All-Ireland League titles with Shannon.

After retiring in 2008, he joined Munster's backroom staff as a technical adviser. He took over as forwards coach in 2011 before replacing Rob Penney as head coach three years later.

During that time, he left an indelible mark that is still felt by the current squad.

"He's someone who's been spoken about from the very first day I arrived in Munster," said captain Tadhg Beirne, who has been at the club since 2018.

"Some of his quotes and actions are still spoken about in meetings and all around the building and I think that is a testament to the man. He was a pure Munster legend, a Munster man through and through."

Beirne added: "He's with us all the time and I don't think it's going to be any different this weekend. We're paying tribute to a true Munster man and rightly so."

Peter O'Mahony was Munster captain when Foley passed away.

After the postponement of the Racing game, the province made the difficult decision to play their home European match against Glasgow at Thomond Park a week later.

In the build-up to the Glasgow game - which Munster won 38-17 - a visibly distraught O'Mahony delivered a heartfelt tribute to Foley at a news conference alongside director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.

Grappling with his grief, O'Mahony said Foley's contributions to the province could not be "calculated". Ten years on, he admits it is still "tough" to talk about his former mentor.

"It changed me hugely," former Ireland captain O'Mahony, who retired last year, told Rugby Union Weekly.

"You talk about perspective on life and career. Indie [my daughter] was only a couple of weeks old, between that and then you lose your head coach and you're thinking 'where is this going, what am I doing?' and 'what's important?'.

"It definitely changed me as a person. As I said, [it was] probably the toughest period of my life to be honest."

In addition to the players' commemorative jackets, the tributes to Foley on Saturday will include a rendition of 'There Is An Isle' - the anthem of his club Shannon RFC, a photo display in Marina Park outside the stadium and a round of applause in the eighth minute.