Introduction

Anthony “Axel” Foley was born on 30 October, 1973 and made his debut for Ireland against England on 21st January 1995. This season he is one of a hand full of players from the amateur era still playing at the ‘top’ level.

Anthony Foleys distinguished sports career started in his native Killaloe representing both his primary school and local club at hurling and gaelic football. On entering St Munchins College as a boarder in sept. 1985 he added rugby to his list of sporting committments. During his time at St Munchins he continued to play hurling with school, club and county (Clare u16) and football with school and club. His prowess at rugby did not take too long to emerge as he was captain of the Munchins team that won the Munster Junior cup in 1989 ( coached by his father Brendan with Rev.Pat O'Shaughnessy and Rev.Pat O'Connor.He was captain of the Bowen Shield (Munster U16 - 1990) winning team (coach John English). Anthony played 3 years senior cup for St Munchins, 2 years for Munster Schools and Irish Schools and became the most capped player for Irish Schools up to that time. He was voted "Student of the Year" 1991 by the teaching staff of St Munchins in recognition of his ability to balance his sporting and academic life. Two years after leaving Munchins Anthony was capped for Ireland and played with fellow past pupils Keith Wood and Philip Danagher in what was described as "proud and historical" for the school.

A member of the all-conquering Shannon side that won four All-Ireland Leagues in a row in the mid 1990s (he holds the astonishing record of playing in all 48 games of this amazing sequence), it was in the shirt’s of Munster and Ireland that Anthony Foley earned his widest renown.

After making a try-scoring debut for Ireland in the January 1995 defeat by England, Anthony was largely overlooked by the Irish international set-up and amassed only 9 caps over the next 4 years. However, in the meantime he had already begun to sow the seeds of what would arguably be the greatest ever career of a player in a Munster jersey.

Foley is the second generation of what is one of Ireland’s most famous rugby families. His father Brendan, a former Irish international (11 caps) and Munster star, played at lock in the much celebrated Munster victory over the All Blacks at Thomond Park in 1978. His sister Rosie was a member of the Irish women’s rugby squad. Anthony is married to Olive Hogan, from Scarriff. They have one son, Tony Jnr ( 3 years old ) with another baby due at the end of March 2008.

During his glittering time in the famous red shirt, one he filled with irrepressible vigour and purpose, he was part of the Munster side that won its first silverware in the modern era by claiming the Celtic League in 2003. Two years later he captained the side to win the Celtic Cup.

It was, however, his and the entire province’s relentless and romantic pursuit of the Holy Grail of European club rugby, the Heineken Cup, that, even beyond his 62 caps for Ireland, most fans will remember from an unforgettable career.

Foley’s and Munster hearts were twice broken as they tripped up at the final hurdle, against Northampton in 2000 and Leicester in 2002. But the dream finally became a reality in May, 2006 as Foley captained the province to glory (23-19) over French side Biarritz, in one of the great coliseums of the game, the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on that unforgettable day for Munster and Irish rugby.

Foley now holds the lofty distinction of being the most capped player in the history of Munster rugby and also holds the record for most caps in the history of the European Cup.

He had, in fact, played in 77 out of Munster’s first 78 games in the Heineken Cup, until a shoulder injury sustained during Munster’s victory over Leicester at Welford Road, their first game of the competition, caused him to miss his side’s following three matches.

Anthony has won 62 international caps for Ireland and has captained the side three times, in 2001 against Samoa, and in 2002 against Romania and Georgia. His last international was against Wales in the 2005 Six Nations.

We’ve been blessed to share the joy and glory of his greatest moments. We’ve watched with equal awe at his indefatigability when staring down heartbreaking defeat. Now, in return for the great Foley moments Anthony gave us in a glittering and honour laden career, we ask for your support for his Testimonial, May 27th, 28th and 29th next.

Described on the recent announcement of his retirement as the greatest (long-term) Irish captain that never was, Anthony Foley, throughout his career, epitomized what’s best in sport. He’s been first to encourage and praise others and has always led by example; he shied from the limelight in the afterglow yet was first up to carry the torch when it mattered most in the heat of battle.

Indeed, in a sporting world where money, all too often rules, Anthony Foley was the best type of professional; a sportsman whom we can with absolute certainty state that, had there remained no monetary reward, would still have spilled every last drop of blood and sweat he gave during a magnificent career and purely for the glory of the jersey.

It is only right, therefore, that we, as a group of friends and supporters, would come together to organise this testimonial to, in some small way, return something for the great pleasure and joy we were given by one of the great Irish sports stars.