KILLALOE’S Anthony Foley was remembered by his former rugby teammate Shane Byrne on the latest episode of Dancing With the Stars.
Sunday’s episode of the popular RTÉ series was dubbed ‘dedication week’ with contestants dancing in honour of people special to their lives in some personal way.
Former Irish hooker, Shane Byrne used the opportunity to pay an emotional tribute to Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley. The pair lined out beside each other for their country for a number of years including the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia where Ireland reached the quarter-finals before bowing out to France.
You’re a champion in our eyes @shanebyrneoffic and we know that you’ve done your friend proud ❤️ 23 points for Shane and @KarenDWTS ’s wonderful Viennese Waltz #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/1Jvs1QReRe
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 12, 2023
Indeed, they both retired from international rugby in 2005, Byrne earning his first cap in 2001 against Romania with increasing appearances following the retirement of another Killaloe man, Keith Wood. Axel made 62 appearances for Ireland from 1995 until 2005.
At the age of 42, Anthony was found dead at a Paris hotel with the Munster squad as they were preparing to face Racing 92 in its opening game of the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup, it was later revealed that heart disease had caused an acute pulmonary edema.
Shane dancing alongside Karen Byrne received a score of 23 for his Viennese Waltz set to Queen’s ‘We Are the Champions’.
Speaking about his late teammate, Shane reflected, “Anthony was one of those that you could build a team on the back of. An amazing athlete, very very gifted, a man of few words and those words were probably spoken softly – that’s the rugby side. But then afterwards he was a far deeper man than that. A very, very caring family man. While remembering Anthony brings up pain, we don’t want it all to be pain we want to also celebrate all that he stood for”.
Tonight, @shanebyrneoffic is dedicating his dance to Anthony Axel Foley 💚🏉8️⃣ #DWTSIrl pic.twitter.com/mcNz7mV20c
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) February 12, 2023
Among those supporting Shane in the audience were Anthony’s wife Olive and two sons, Tony and Dan.
After completing his dance, Shane wiped away tears after catching the eye of the Foley family.
Judge Loraine Barry praised Shane for his “beautiful tribute,” while Brian Redmond said he had no doubt Axel would be proud of him tonight.
