Anthony Foley’s contract extension set to be triggered by Munster

Anthony Foley is set to confirm a one-year extension as Munster Rugby head coach for next season, the Irish Examiner understands.

Foley and the province he served as player, captain and assistant coach before succeeding Rob Penney as head coach in the summer of 2014, had an option to extend his tenure beyond the two-year contract he signed then and that is due to triggered in the coming days. Munster had offered the 42-year-old the renewal in December as Foley’s side’s form began to unravel following a strong start to his second season.

A record-equalling losing run of five successive games, three of them at Thomond Park, was halted with a win at Ulster in the Pro12 on January 2 but the Ravenhill win offered only temporary respite. Munster collapsed to a 27-7 Champions Cup defeat the following week against a Stade Francais side reduced to 14 men at half-time.