Former Scotland international and current Munster Rugby elite performance officer Greig Oliver has died in Cape Town following a paragliding accident.
The 58-year-old, who was appointed to his current role with the province in 2011, had travelled to South Africa with his family to support his son Jack, who is a member of the Ireland squad in action at the ongoing World Rugby Under-20 Championship.
A former director of rugby with Garryowen, Oliver served as assistant coach of the Ireland U20 team from 2011 to 2014. As a player he earned three caps for Scotland, featuring in both the 1987 and 1991 World Cups.
Commenting on the news, IRFU chief executive Kevin Potts said: "On behalf of the Irish rugby community, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the Oliver family at this extremely sad time.
"Greig was a hugely popular member of staff and played a key role in the development of many young players during his time at Munster Rugby.
"Today's news is an unspeakable tragedy and our thoughts are with Greig's wife Fiona, children Jack and Ciara, and his many friends, family and colleagues."
Munster chief executive Ian Flanagan said: "On behalf of Munster Rugby, I would like to express our deepest sympathies to Greig's wife Fiona, son Jack, daughter Ciara, and the wider Oliver family.
"We are all in a state of shock following Greig’s tragic passing. He was a great colleague and friend to so many and will be dearly missed across the Munster and Irish rugby community.
"Greig made his presence felt each day, he was always there to provide a helping hand and was a hugely popular character with his light-hearted nature and sense of humour.
"He had an infectious enthusiasm for the game and was incredibly passionate about helping young players be the best they can be on and off the field."
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont tweeted: "On behalf of World Rugby and the global rugby family, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the Oliver family, the Ireland U20 squad and the Irish rugby community at this difficult time."
Olivier's passing comes as a hammer blow to that Ireland underage squad, with the players already reeling from news of the deaths of Andrew O'Donnell and Max Wall on the Greek island of Ios.
The two teens had been students at St Michael's College in Dublin, with a significant contingent of the Ireland Under-20 squad also having attended the school.
