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Lions lock Hyron Andrews dies at team hotel in France before Champions Cup opener

The 31-year-old died on Friday 16 October, and his teammates decided to play their first Champions Cup match, against La Rochelle, as planned in his honour.

By RuckBee Newsroom1 min read
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The Lions' first Champions Cup match will go ahead under a heavy shadow. Lock Hyron Andrews, 31, died at the squad's hotel in France on Friday 16 October, the day before the Johannesburg side were due to meet La Rochelle.

BBC Sport reported that the public prosecutor in La Rochelle is investigating the death.

The players have decided as a group to go ahead with the match against the two-time champions on Saturday 17 October as planned, and they will play it in Andrews' honour. A moment's silence will be held in his memory before every Champions Cup and Challenge Cup match this weekend.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said: "This is terrible and distressing news; our hearts go out to Hyron’s family and the whole Lions rugby community".

A new start in Johannesburg

Andrews moved to the Lions from Sale Sharks before this season and played in all three of their URC matches so far. He made his first start for the club in the 57-15 defeat by the Bulls on Saturday 10 October. The Lions have won two of those three league games, one of them against defending champions Leinster.

He arrived at Sale in February 2024 from the Sharks, signed as injury cover for Jonny Hill, and went on to play 45 times for the English club. Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson remembered him warmly: "Hyron was just a brilliant guy and a brilliant team-mate."

Andrews played for the Junior Springboks in 2015 but never won a senior Test cap.

His death comes 10 years after Munster coach Anthony Foley died suddenly in Paris on the eve of a Champions Cup match.

Andrews leaves his wife and their young sons, Hendrix and Emerson.

Sources

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