Anthony Foley, the Munster coach, was found dead in his hotel room in Paris yesterday morning, he was 42.

Foley played 62 times for Ireland and captained Munster to one of their greatest triumphs when they won the Heineken Cup in 2006.

After retiring at the end of the 2007-08 season, Foley turned his hand to coaching as well as playing for the Classic Lions in the World Rugby Classic, he scored a try in the 2008 final when the Lions beat the Classic Springboks 19-5 at the National Sports Centre.

His death has shocked rugby and brought forth a string of tributes.

“We are all deeply shocked to hear the news about Anthony Foley,” Allan Martin, the Classic Lions manager, said. “Our thoughts are with Olive and the boys and his immediate family. A great player, outstanding personality who was loved by all. He will be sadly missed by all.”

Daffyd James, who captained the Lions in Bermuda last year, tweeted: “Saddened to hear about the loss of Anthony Foley a true @Munsterrugby man #rip sincere condolences to his family. Shocked.”

Foley, described as “the heart and soul” of Munster rugby, leaves a wife and two children. No details about the cause of death have been made public.

The death of the Munster coach, who was in France for his side’s European Rugby Champions Cup game against Racing 92, was announced by the Irish Rugby Football Union.

“It is with deep regret that the Irish Rugby Football Union and Munster Rugby must advise of the passing overnight of Munster Rugby head coach Anthony Foley, at the team hotel in Paris,” read a statement on the IRFU website.

Foley’s death prompted the postponement of Munster’s game.

Michael D. Higgins, Ireland’s president, led the tributes to the former international, saying: “Anthony Foley excelled from a young age and made a huge contribution to the successes of Munster and Ireland, in both his playing and coaching careers.

“As President of Ireland, and as Patron of the IRFU, I offer them and Munster rugby my deepest sympathies.”

Munster fans who had travelled over for the game in Paris gathered outside the Stade Yves-du-Manoir and gave a mournful, muted rendition of The Fields of Athenry, a folk song regularly sung by Irish fans at sporting events.

Foley, a powerful back-row forward nicknamed Axel after the Eddie Murphy character in Beverly Hills Cop, will be best remembered for captaining Munster to their first Heineken Cup final triumph in 2006, a victory that ended their quest for success in Europe.

No one knew better than Foley, whose father Brendan was part of the Munster team that famously defeated the All Blacks in 1978, how much that meant to the province, whose team had lost their two previous finals.

“He epitomises what Munster rugby is all about. It’s absolutely shocking. There’s nothing but shock in the air,” Donal Lenihan, a former Ireland international, told state broadcaster RTE.

Capped 62 times for Ireland, Foley made 202 appearances for Munster and was also a skilled player in the Irish sports of Gaelic football and hurling.

Although he was surrounded by more illustrious team-mates such as Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell, the Limerick-born Foley had a special relationship with the supporters and his contributions were uniquely cherished.

“He was steeped in Munster rugby. He was a skilful all-rounder but rugby was always going to be his first love,” Lenihan said. “He’s had an unbroken involvement with Munster from an early age.

“Everything he did was geared for the betterment of Munster rugby.”

In a book by Alan English about Munster’s 11-year journey to conquer Europe, Foley said he wanted to be remembered as “a stubborn player who wouldn’t give in ... Once there’s something to chase, I’ll chase it.”

Rugby commentator Tom McGurk told the Independent.ie website: “He was a great leader — he was the heart and soul of that Munster team. It’s absolutely shocking.

“A great, great Munster rugby family — his father Brendan played for Ireland, his sister Rosie played for the Ireland women’s team.

“He went from captaincy to coaching Munster. The whole rugby family of Ireland and across Europe is in mourning.”

Foley stood down as Munster captain in 2007 and retired after the 2007-08 season. He was appointed Munster forwards coach at the end of the 2011 campaign, and head coach in 2014.

Tributes to Foley came in from clubs, provinces and governing bodies.

“Very sad to learn of the death of Anthony Foley. A great player and opponent! My thoughts are with his family,” Thierry Dusautoir, the former France captain, said.

Frankie Sheahan, his former Munster team-mate, posted a recent photo of Foley and others celebrating the birthday of Mick Galwey, the Munster favourite who preceded him as captain.

“Distraught at the tragic news of Anthony Foley, great friend, teammate & legend. Super form last weekend at Mick Galwey’s 50th. Incomprehensible,” he said.

Books of condolence will be opened today in council offices across Munster and the Ireland flag will be flown at half mast across local authority offices.