Former Ireland rugby player and women's international coach Tom Tierney has died, aged 46.
The scrum-half, who was capped eight times for Ireland and started four games at the 1999 World Cup, passed away overnight.
At club level he played with Richmond, Garryowen, Munster, Galwegians, Connacht and Leicester during his career.
The Limerick native moved into coaching after hanging up his boots and worked with Garryowen and Cork Constitution before taking charge of the Ireland Club International squad in 2013.
In 2014, Tierney was named as head coach of the Ireland women's team and his high-point came in 2015 when he led Ireland to their second Six Nations title, with only a narrow defeat against France denying them a Grand Slam.
Tierney stepped down from his role with the women's team after a disappointing 2017 World Cup campaign, but remained with the IRFU and worked with the Irish men's Under-20 and U-19 teams.
Most recently he had been employed as an IRFU national talent coach based out of Munster Rugby's high performance centre in UL since 2021, working with the province's academy and national talent squad players.
"Everyone in Irish Rugby is deeply shocked to hear of the sudden loss of Tom Tierney," said IRFU chief executive Kevin Potts in a statement.
"Our immediate thoughts are with his wife Mary and daughters Isabel and Julia, as well as his many friends, colleagues and former team-mates.
"Tom was an outstanding scrum-half and his time in the Ireland jersey will always be an immense source of pride for his family and the clubs that supported him on his journey.
"He also amassed an impressive CV as a coach and we were honoured to have him as a colleague in the IRFU from 2014 to present.
"He will be sorely missed."
Munster Rugby CEO, Ian Flanagan, said: "On behalf of Munster Rugby, I would like to express our deepest condolences to Tom’s wife Mary, daughters Isabel and Julia, and the wider Tierney family.
"We are shocked and deeply saddened by Tom’s sudden passing. A great servant to Munster and Irish Rugby he will be dearly missed. The younger players and his colleagues in the HPC enjoyed working closely with Tom each day as he brought a great energy and unique personality to his role, always ensuring the future of Munster Rugby was in safe hands.
"May he rest in peace."
Brian O'Driscoll, who made his international debut alongside Tierney against Australia in Brisbane in June 1999, paid tribute on social media.
"Such awful news to hear this morning. Received our 1st Caps together. Love to Mary & his girls. May he rest in peace."
