Ringrose: Everyone 'shocked' over Oliver news

Garry Ringrose has paid tribute to Greig Oliver and says everyone is "shocked and saddened" at his death.

Oliver, who died yesterday aged 58 in a paragliding accident in South Africa where he was supporting his son Jack in the World Rugby U20 Championship, was a former Ireland U20s coach and was with the team when Ringrose played for them in 2014.

"His passing puts everything into perspective," said Ringrose, currently training with the senior Ireland squad ahead of the World Cup warm-up games next month.

"He's someone I dealt with in the past in underage and he was a huge help to me.

"I know most people that are in an Ireland jersey at the moment would say the same thing.

"Everyone is shocked and saddened. My thoughts are with his young lad over in South Africa at the moment and, of course, the rest of his family.

"It's just tragic and upsetting to hear. All of my thoughts, and everyone else's thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Oliver, a former Scotland international, was a Munster Rugby elite performance officer and Ringrose met him across the Under-19 and Under-20 age grades.

The Garryowen clubman was also involved in the development of a number of other internationals including Tadhg Beirne, Conor Murray, Iain Henderson, Craig Casey, Finlay Bealham and Robbie Henshaw.

"[They were] pretty formative years," said the 28-year-old Leinster centre, who was speaking in his role as an ambassador for the National Dairy Council.

"Post-school, sub academy and academy with Ireland.

"That's when I would have dealt with him and I would have continued to deal with him up at the HPC.

"It doesn't feel that long ago that I met him up there, I think there was a coach’s development thing and he was there with Munster.

"He was slagging me