Anthony Foley: Munsterman.
The trailer and air date for an evocative, detailed documentary on Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley, the Munster rugby legend, have been released.
The documentary will be broadcast on Monday, October 16 from 9:35pm on RTE One and will feature a host of Munster stars, and members of Foley’s family.
Produced by Wildfire Films, ‘Munsterman’ deals with Foley’s early years, breakthrough with Munster, Heineken Cup glory, his role as head coach and his untimely death, at the age of 42, in Paris last October. It also covers the aftermath of his passing and the tremendous outpouring of grief, and sharing of mighty tales, that followed.
A documentary about the late @Munsterrugby legend Anthony Foley will air on @RTEOne on Monday, 9.35 #rterugby #Axel pic.twitter.com/dPZO6Jx4Xi
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) October 12, 2017
Foley had Shannon RFC and Munster Rugby in his blood. His father, Brendan, had played for Munster against the All Blacks in that famous 1978 victory.
Foley only ever dreamed of playing for Munster and, when he retired, those dreams took another shape – serving the province in every way he could. I once asked Anthony Foley what Munster Rugby meant to him.
“Pride,” he answered.
“It’s pride in place, pride in parish, pride in your friends.
“It is understanding who you represent. It’s not just yourself, it is the people connected to you going back to your underage coach, the school you came out of, the parish you came out of.
“A lot of people are connected toward you and it is how you hold yourself to that. That’s the best you can do.”
That devotion and commitment to the cause was coupled with the other motivator in his life – family.
It is fitting, then, that Munster legends and Foley’s sisters, Rosie and Orla, all feature in what is sure to be an emotional documentary. Among the constellation of stars from the province are Ronan O’Gara, Paul O’Connell, Keith Wood, with contributions from current players Conor Murray, Simon Zebo, CJ Stander, Peter O’Mahony and Keith Earls.
More on the 54-minute documentary can be found here.
