MUNSTER head coach Anthony Foley may have died of a heart problem, a French prosecutor has said.
Foley, who would have turned 43 in two weeks, died suddenly in Paris at the weekend ahead of a European Champions Cup game.
An autopsy revealed on Tuesday night that he died from of an "acute pulmonary edema" - a build-up of fluid in the lungs that can lead to respiratory failure.
The autopsy found Foley had a "heart rhythm disorder that caused an acute pulmonary edema".
The French prosecutor said his death could "be linked to a cardiac problem".
Further tests are under way but the body has been freed to be released to Foley's family.
Foley's remains are to be flown to Shannon Airport on Wednesday.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Flannan's Church, Killaloe, Co Clare at midday on Friday, with the church reserved for family and friends only.
The burial will take place at Relig Núa Cemetery, Killaloe.
Meanwhile, Ulster Rugby plan to erect a memorial to the coach at the Kingspan Stadium following his sudden death.
The plans to honour the former Ireland player were announced on Tuesday as a reciprocal gesture following the death of Ulster player Nevin Spence in 2012.
Shane Logan from Ulster Rugby said the club will install a permanent memorial to Foley in the away changing rooms of the east Belfast stadium.
Ulster Rugby said they were keen to repay the support shown to them after Spence's death four years ago.
Munster erected a plaque at their home ground, Thomond Park, in Limerick commemorating the Ulster centre, who died in a farming accident along with his father and brother.
It is expected the memorial to Foley will be unveiled when the sides go head to head in the Guinness Pro12 in Belfast on October 28.
Mr Logan said: "When Nevin Spence died four years ago, the first person on the phone to me was Gareth Fitzgerald, who is my counterpart in Munster.
"He was a tremendous support to me and to many others. He asked if it would be okay for Munster to put a plaque permanently into the away
changing room to remember Nevin Spence.
"I asked Rory Best and some of the senior players and they were very pleased and honoured that Munster would make such a tangible
contribution to us.
"So it's our intention to do the same and have a permanent memorial to Anthony Foley in our away changing room."
Mr Logan added that Foley was a "legend and all round excellent individual".
"We perhaps more than anyone know the tragedy of having a tremendous life cut short unexpectedly so I hope that we are well placed to
provide sympathy and support in the same way as they and everybody in the rugby community did for us.
