ANTHONY FOLEY EMBODIED the tradition of Munster Rugby and devoted his life to the club, Donal Lenihan has said in an emotional tribute to his fellow Munsterman.

The 62-time capped Ireland international passed away suddenly ast night.

Speaking shortly after Foley’s death was confirmed by the IRFU, Lenihan, who is in Paris, expressed his shock at the news.

“I’m absolutely devastated,” he told RTÉ’s Sunday Sport. “At 42 years of age, things like this aren’t supposed to happen, especially to a fit, athletic man…it’s unbelievable.

“People had heard the rumours but were kind of scared to say anything until the official confirmation. Other than that we have no other information, we’ve no idea what’s after happening. It’s absolutely tragic.

“It’s so unexpected. Brendan [Anthony's father] was here like the rest of us, standing outside the stadium. He was here half an hour before we arrived and I know Munster Rugby were frantically trying to contact his family.

“Brendan has followed Anthony all over the world. I remember Anthony on an Irish schoolboys trip to New Zealand many years ago and Brendan following him over there. He’s been an ever-present at every game throughout his career and for Brendan and his wife Olive it’s a huge, huge tragedy.

“Munster was his life. He was hanging around Shannon rugby dressing rooms from the time he was born and he epitomised the tradition and everything he did was for the betterment of Munster Rugby.

“As I said, you think of his Dad and his son captaining Munster to their first ever Heineken Cup win in 2006. The DNA of rugby just flows through Anthony Foley and it will take a long time for Munster Rugby to recover from this shock.”