Lions lock Hyron Andrews, 31, dies at team hotel in France the day before Champions Cup opener

Hyron Andrews, a lock forward for the Johannesburg Lions, died today, Oct. 16, at the team's hotel on the Île de Ré, off France's west coast. He was 31. The Lions were due to open their Champions Cup campaign against La Rochelle on Saturday.

Paramedics were called shortly after 9.20am UK time. They tried to resuscitate Andrews and could not. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

What authorities have said

The La Rochelle prosecutor's office said Andrews was found unresponsive in a shower cubicle in the hotel's spa area. The shower was locked from the inside.

The office said his body showed no signs of violence and that third-party involvement is "not considered the most likely explanation." It said an investigation into the causes has been handed to the gendarmerie.

SA Rugby said in a statement that Andrews died "after a fall" in what it described as an accident. French media reports said he was found unconscious in the shower and suffered a cardiac arrest. Neither the prosecutor nor the gendarmerie has confirmed a medical cause, and the investigation is open.

A short career in the Lions jersey

Andrews joined the Lions this season after returning to his native South Africa. Before that he spent about two and a half years at Sale Sharks, arriving in February 2024 from the Durban-based Sharks as injury cover for England lock Jonny Hill. He made 45 appearances for the club.

He represented the Junior Springboks in 2015 but never earned a senior international cap. He leaves his wife, Maighlin, and their sons, Hendrix and Emerson.

Lions chief executive Rudolf Straeuli said: "We are heartbroken by the passing of Hyron. He was not only a gifted rugby player, but also a cherished member of our Lions family having recently joined us this season." The club asked that the family's privacy be respected.

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson described him as "a brilliant guy and a brilliant team-mate." He said Andrews was "funny and charismatic in his own unique, dry way" and that his team-mates "to a man, loved playing with him." Sanderson added that Andrews and his wife had made "a second home in Manchester."

Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union, called the news "terrible and distressing" and spoke of "the depth of sympathy we feel" for Andrews's family.

The match will go ahead

The Lions squad chose to play La Rochelle on Saturday in Andrews's honour. Organisers European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) said the squad "as a group" made that decision. Kickoff is at 17:30 BST, 18:30 in South Africa.

A moment's silence will be observed before every Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup match this weekend. Sale are due to pay tribute before their Champions Cup game against Glasgow Warriors. The Lions have said they will announce further details of a tribute in due course.

EPCR chairman Dominic McKay said the thoughts of everyone at the organisation are with Andrews's wife, sons, family, friends and team-mates.

An anniversary nobody wanted

Andrews died on the 10th anniversary of the death of Munster coach Anthony Foley. Foley, 42, died in his sleep in a Paris hotel on the eve of a European tie against Racing 92 in 2016. A heart condition had caused fluid to build up in his lungs.

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara was on Racing 92's coaching staff that day. He was understood to be travelling to the Lions' hotel to offer condolences. Munster are due to pay tribute to Foley before their game against Racing in Cork this weekend, wearing commemorative jackets with the club crest and the number eight.

The gendarmerie's inquiry into how Andrews died is under way. The prosecutor's office has not yet announced a cause. Until it does, the accounts of an accidental fall and of a cardiac arrest remain unreconciled. The Lions take the field Saturday against La Rochelle without him.