The family of Anthony Foley, the Munster head coach who died suddenly in a Paris hotel on Sunday hours before a Champions Cup match against Racing 92 at the age of 42, issued a statement on Monday saying they had been “plunged deep into an incomprehensible darkness”.
A date for the funeral of Foley, a former Munster and Ireland captain whose death generated tributes from leading figures throughout the game, has not been set because the cause of his death has yet to be determined.
“The family of Anthony Foley wishes to extend its deepest appreciation to the endless legions of friends and the wider rugby family here and abroad for the huge outpouring of support and sympathy since Anthony’s tragic and most untimely passing at the weekend,” the statement began. “With Anthony’s passing we have ultimately lost an amazing, adoring and loving father and husband; an equally caring, loyal and devoted son and brother; a central and go-to figure for the wider Foley and Hogan families.
“Our anguish at the sudden loss of Anthony is bottomless. We have been plunged deep into an incomprehensible darkness and sense of loss that we must work our way through over the coming days, weeks, months and years.
“We know, too, that his sudden death has brought the rugby worlds of Shannon RFC, Munster, Ireland and much further afield crashing down. You have lost a former player, coach, friend and all-round inspiration – your and our hero both. We mourn his loss together.”
Wales, meanwhile, announce their squad for the four autumn internationals, but will need reinforcements for the first match against Australia on 5 November. Their England-based players will not be released by Premiership Rugby for the game with the Wallabies because it falls outside the official international window.
It means George North, Jamie Roberts, Luke Charteris, Taulupe Faletau, who would probably not have been involved anyway as he recovers from a knee injury, Ross Moriarty and Rhys Priestland will not be available for the interim head coach Rob Howley’s first match since Warren Gatland started his sabbatical to focus on the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.
Premiership Rugby’s policy, which was agreed unanimously by the 12 clubs, is that non-England internationals are not released for Tests outside the official window under any circumstances. England have access to their players for fourth internationals as part of the £200m agreement with the clubs.
Better news for Howley was that his captain, Sam Warburton, who this month had surgery on a fractured cheekbone, is in line to return for Cardiff Blues on Friday against Pau in the European Challenge Cup. The Blues made a winning start to their campaign at Bristol last week and the Ashton Gate club have signed the former England fly-half Shane Geraghty from London Irish on a season‑long deal. The Premiership’s bottom club have a crisis at No10 with Tusi Pisi, Adrian Jarvis, Gavin Henson and Callum Sheedy all injured.
