Tributes paid to rugby legend Anthony Foley

Books of Condolence will be opened across Munster today in memory of Munsterrugby coach and former Ireland international Anthony Foley who died suddenly in Paris on Sunday morning, at the age of 42, while he was preparing for the province's first game in this season's European Champions Cup.

Local authorities across Munster - in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Waterford - will open the books of condolence to allowrugby supporters to express their sympathies on the passing of the Munster great while the Irish flag will be flown at half-mast outside local authority offices.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and President Michael D. Higgins led the tributes to Foley, who made more than 60 international appearances for Ireland and over 200 appearances for Munster, leading them to victory in the 2006 Heineken Cup final.

"Like everyone else in the country, I am absolutely shocked on hearing of the untimely passing of Munster head coach, Anthony Foley," Kenny said. "Anthony was a legendary figure in Munster and Irish rugby. It is tragic to lose such a fantastic man at such a young age."

"Anthony ... was one of the great figures of Irish sport in the modern era ...He was regarded with great respect and deep affection, not just among the Munster rugby fans but by all those interested in Irish sports," the president said.

The rugby world also paid heartfelt tribute to one of its own.

"The thing that made Munster great, better than the entire sum of their parts, was that everyone understood where they came from and who they represented. Anthony was central in establishing those ground rules," former Ireland international Donal Lenihan said.

Another former Ireland player Brian O'Driscoll took to social media to pay tribute to Foley.

"Can't quite believe it. So incredibly sad. My thoughts are with Olive, his boys and his extended family," he said.

"Anthony Foley was, is and will always be a legend of Munster and Irish rugby, but specifically the former," Tony Ward said. "I cannot think of a more complete No. 8 to wear red - and there have been some truly great ones over the years."

Ronan O'Gara, the former Ireland and Munster fly-half who is now a coach with French side Racing Metro,tweeted the following:"Alone on the couch with Jess. Heartbroken.We have lost an incredible man. Too sad to tweet further.. sleep well Axel. We love you..xxx."

Munster were due to play Racing Metro at the weekend but the game was cancelled after the sad news broke.

Former Ireland rugby manager Eddie O'Sullivan described Foley as "an extraordinarily intelligent player".

"He was an extraordinary rugby talent, a fantastic player, a part of rugby DNA," O'Sullivan told RTÉ's Morning Ireland. "He was a man who didn't speak often but when he spoke everyone listened."

The Mayor of Limerick, home to Munster's Thomond Park, said people were devastated to hear of Foley's passing.

“It was with great shock that I learned this afternoon of the tragic and sudden death of Munster legend Anthony Foley. He was a giant among men and a true gentleman. He will be sadly missed," Kieran O'Hanlon said.

“On behalf of the people of Limerick I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to this family. All of Limerick is proud of Anthony’s achievements, whether it was lining out with St Munchin’s College, Shannon, Munster or Ireland.”

“Anthony was a true son of Limerick and Limerick is in mourning for one of their own.”

Anthony Foley's family has issued a statement extending 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 thanked everyone for their support and asked that the family's privacy be respected over this tragic period.