'Memory of Axel to the forefront is of everyone's mind'
Munster Rugby is preparing to honor the memory of former coach and captain Anthony 'Axel' Foley on the tenth anniversary of his sudden death. The team will face Racing 92, the same opponent they were scheduled to play when Foley passed away in 2016.
Why it matters
The event highlights the enduring cultural impact of sports figures on their teams and the emotional significance of commemorative milestones in professional sports.
Ten years on from the sudden death of Anthony Foley, the list of the players and coaches left in the Munster dressingroom who either played with or under the province's legendary captain is now a small one.
On the coaching ticket, assistants Denis Leamy and Mossy Lawler and analyst George Murray would have all either played with or worked alongside 'Axel' at some stage.
Of the playing group, back row Jack O’Donoghue and out-half JJ Hanrahan are the only two who would have made debuts while Foley was in charge of the province.
As captain Tadhg Beirne points out though, for those who haven’t even met him, it feels like they knew him intimately, such is the legacy Foley left behind.
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