All Blacks coach Ian Foster has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the age of 96 on Friday morning (NZ time).
The announcement was made by Buckingham Palace, putting Operation London Bridge - the plan for what happens following the Queen's death - into motion.
And as the All Blacks departed New Zealand for Australia, where they'll face the Wallabies in the first Bledisloe Cup test next Thursday, Foster was asked for his thoughts on the Queen's passing.
"I didn't know her personally," said Foster. "But anyone who's served 70 years, and done it to the degree of discipline she's done deserves a lot of respect.
"It's a sad day."
While New Zealand rugby has mixed in the same circles with the Queen - who paid tribute to All Blacks great Jonah Lomu after his death in 2015 and met Richie McCaw and Sir Steve Hansen in the same year - Foster jokes he wasn't important enough to ever meet her.
"I haven't met her, not me. I didn't make the cut."
Global sport has been swift to react in its remembrance of the Queen, with cancellations of events across cricket, golf, rugby, and horse racing in the UK.
New Zealand Rugby has confirmed a minute's silence will be observed prior to kick-off in this weekend's Farah Palmer Cup final, NPC and Heartland Championship matches, in remembrance of both Queen Elizabeth and Willie Los'e.
