Anthony Foley: The hard man who had a heart of gold

How will I remember Axel? I will look at that picture of him on the front of Monday’s Irish Examiner. It captured everything about him. There was this perception of him as being dour but that picture of him with the beaming smile was Axel for me.

I became Munster’s media manager in 2000 after meeting Jerry Holland and Declan Kidney, who invited me down to Musgrave Park to meet the squad. It was one of the most frightening experiences of my life.

I turned up in a suit and tie and after meeting with the likes of Peter Clohessy and Mick Galwey, I knew immediately I was overdressed. I remember Mick O’Driscoll rolling his eyes to the heavens as if to say, ‘who’s this langer?’ and I knew it was going to be a tough gig. I was from Leinster, and Leinster was hated with a vengeance.