Axel, The Heartbeat Of Munster

In symbolising both the heart and commitment with which he played and coached, and the immovable place he holds in the hearts of all those associated with Munster and the wider community, our jersey will carry the name AXEL under the Munster crest in today’s European game.

Fittingly, ten years on, this season’s European jersey is a throwback to the 2005/06 jersey where Munster, under the stewardship of Axel, met their European destiny.  There for every single twist and turn of Munster's path to the Holy Grail, heart breaking defeats in the European finals of 2000 and 2002, and subsequent semi and quarter final exits, only served to reaffirm his belief that he was part of something special and Munster's day would come.

May 20th 2006, his ambitions were realised and, as someone who had given his all, and some, to the cause, it was only right that Anthony was the one who lifted the trophy when Munster won their first European Cup in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Carrying his name, today's European jersey pays tribute to our coach, former captain, colleague and friend Axel, the heartbeat of Munster.