“What I saw the last week fills me with massive pride.”
Ronan O’Gara admits the past week has been a blur but he is glad he has rugby, and the wider rugby community, to fall back on.
The Munster legend was rocked to his core by the passing of former teammate, and great friend, Anthony Foley in Paris last Sunday. Foley’s death occurred on the morning of the postponed Champions Cup match between Munster and O’Gara’s Racing 92.
O’Gara tweeted out his heartfelt tribute to Foley on Sunday night and tried to focus on his team’s upcoming game against Leicester Tigers this weekend. It proved immensely tough.
He was back in Ireland on Thursday in time for Foley’s removal and attended his funeral in Killaloe, County Clare on Friday. He told BT Sport:
“What I saw the last week fills me with massive pride. It’s a special place and over there at Thomond Park yesterday was incredible. The world of rugby and the world of rugby has been extremely comforting. It’s a wonderful game we play.”
“It was so sad the last week,” he added, “but with the teammates I had, we never laughed so much on Friday night. My ribs are actually sore from laughing. That helps.”
O’Gara gave thanks to the people of Killaloe for the welcome they extended to all that attended the funeral and paid tribute to Foley’s “incredible” family.
Asked how he was managing to cope, O’Gara admitted he was literally living ‘minute to minute at the moment’.
.@RonanOGara10 reflects on a tough week after the sudden death of his close friend Anthony Foley. https://t.co/I6i81twZwC
— BT Sport Rugby (@btsportrugby) October 23, 2016
Racing 92 lost 27-17 to Tigers at Welford Road at another match that featured a pristine, poignant tribute to Foley.
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