Monday 17 October 2016 17:06, UK
Anthony Foley's family say the tributes to the Munster coach have "carried us through these darkest days".
The Irish province's head coach passed away at the team's hotel in Paris ahead of Munster's European Champions Cup game against Racing 92 on Sunday afternoon.
The match was postponed after the news emerged and will be rescheduled for a later date.
Foley's family have issued a statement "to extend its deepest appreciation to the endless legions of friends and the wider rugby family here and abroad for the huge outpouring of support and sympathy since Anthony's tragic and most untimely passing at the weekend".
The statement went on to say: "With Anthony's passing, we have ultimately lost an amazing, adoring and loving father and husband; an equally caring, loyal and devoted son and brother; a central and go-to figure for the wider Foley and Hogan families.
"Our anguish at the sudden loss of Anthony is bottomless. We have been plunged deep into an incomprehensible darkness and sense of loss that we must work our way through over the coming days, weeks, months and years.
"We know, too, that his sudden death has brought the rugby worlds of Shannon RFC, Munster, Ireland and much further afield crashing down. You have lost a former player, coach, friend and all-round inspiration - your and our hero both. We mourn his loss together.
"We again wish to thank everyone for their support; it will help carry us through these darkest days.
"With regard to media, we thank you also for the sensitive way in which you have paid tribute to Anthony since the weekend but we do ask that our privacy and that of his close friends be respected over this tragic period."
Pat Whelan, chairman of the Six Nations council, added his tribute by saying: "My thoughts go out to Anthony's wife Olive and their two boys, his parents Brendan and Sheila, Munster Rugby, the IRFU and the wider rugby community.
"Anthony was the embodiment of rugby and its values. He will be a huge loss to everyone."
