[12] He went to the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, and played as a replacement in one pool game against Japan which Ireland won 50-28.

[21] The following year it was announced that Foley would succeed Rob Penney as Munster's head coach, signing a two-year contract that began on 1 July 2014.

[15] Foley played Gaelic football for his local GAA club Smith O'Briens in the parish of Killaloe, County Clare.

[25] He played inter-county hurling for Clare at underage level alongside former Munster rugby player Keith Wood.

[27] Foley died in his sleep on 16 October 2016, while staying at a hotel in the Paris suburb of Suresnes[1] with the Munster squad; heart disease had caused an acute pulmonary edema.

[24][30] President Michael D. Higgins and then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny made tributes to Foley, and the Irish flag flew at half mast at government buildings in Munster.

[34] Before their historic first ever win against New Zealand in Soldier Field, Chicago on 5 November 2016, the senior Irish men's team paid tribute to Foley by forming a figure of 8, led by Munster's CJ Stander, Simon Zebo, Conor Murray and Donnacha Ryan, to face the All Blacks' haka.

[35] Ahead of a game against Munster on 11 November 2016, the Māori All Blacks team paid tribute to Foley by placing a jersey with his initials on the halfway line before performing a haka.

[38] At Ireland's World Cup Quarter Final match against the All Blacks on 14 October 2023 the team again formed a figure of eight when they faced the haka in tribute to Foley.

The trophy was commissioned with the agreement of the Foley family and Munster Rugby and it is envisaged that it will be presented to all future European Player of the Year winners.

[42] Over €39,000 in proceeds from the special commemorative programme sold for Munster's match against Glasgow Warriors on 22 October 2016 was raised and donated to various good causes.