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Lions vs La Rochelle ends 31-14 as grieving side honour Hyron Andrews

The Lions kept pace with the two-time European champions for an hour in France before La Rochelle pulled clear, and now head to Scotland for two URC games.

Follow-up to Lions vs La Rochelle goes ahead after the death of lock Hyron Andrews

By RuckBee Newsroom2 min read
Players in red jerseys stand arm in arm, heads bowed, behind a red jersey on the grass at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
AI illustration

A day after losing their teammate Hyron Andrews, the Lions ran out at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Saturday 17 October 2026 and stayed with La Rochelle for an hour. The two-time European champions then pulled away to win 31-14.

Andrews, a 31-year-old lock, died suddenly on Friday 16 October. His teammates and the management decided to play the match in his honour, as we reported before kick-off. It was the Lions' first match in the Investec Champions Cup.

Before kick-off the ground fell quiet for a minute's silence. A Lions No 5 jersey lay on the grass in front of the team, and some of the players wept. SuperSport reported that the Lions have retired the No 5 jersey for the rest of the season, and Ruan Delport wore 24 in this match.

Ivan van Rooyen made it clear what the occasion meant. "It's not about win or lose today. It's not about rugby," he said. "We want to show the respect to Hyron. Unbelievable guy and unbelievable player. World-class dad and husband."

How the match unfolded

In the third minute centre Henco van Wyk crossed and flyhalf Chris Smith added the conversion. The Lions also had flank Siba Mahashe sent to the sin bin for repeated team infringements. When La Rochelle hooker Pierre Bourgarit was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, his opposite number Morné Brandon scored to bring the Lions level. The hosts still went into the break 19-14 ahead after wing Davit Niniashvili scored from a cross-kick.

The game turned on the hour mark. La Rochelle replacement hooker Tolu Latu scored from a maul to open a 10-point lead. The Lions thought they had hit back when replacement scrumhalf Nico Steyn went over, but the TMO ruled the try out for a forward pass. Late on, replacement Avakuki Niusalelekitoga made sure of the win with a try on his La Rochelle debut.

What comes next

There is little time to regroup. The Lions now travel to Scotland for two URC matches over the next fortnight, against Edinburgh and the Glasgow Warriors. Their next Champions Cup game is at home to Toulouse on Saturday 12 December 2026.

Sources

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