Denis Leamy says that shocked Munster will be out in force to say goodbye to Tom Tierney in Limerick tomorrow.
Tierney, a former Garryowen, Munster, Connacht and Leicester Tigers scrum-half who made eight Ireland appearances and played in the 1999 World Cup, died suddenly last Friday morning. He was 46.
He went on to become the Ireland women's XVs head coach and, most recently, was working for the IRFU at Munster as a national talent coach.
READ MORE: Former Ireland international and national women's head coach Tom Tierney dies aged 46
Leamy had played with Tierney at academy level before playing against him quite regularly at senior level. They regularly crossed paths again at Munster's high performance centre this season.
"Incredibly sad news filtered into the building on Friday morning and it was with great shock that we learned of the death of Tom," said the Reds' defence coach.
"Always a character on and off the pitch and the building is a much lesser place without him.
"He had the ability to light up a room and, look, first and foremost our condolences to Mary, Isobel and Julia, we really are thinking of them at this very sad time and our thoughts and prayers are with them.
"He forged an incredible relationship with the young players he was dealing with, he was hugely passionate about them, about Munster rugby - and the values he was instilling in those young men we were starting to see on the training pitch and in the building, and it's a great pity.
"It's unbelievable, really."
