South African rugby player Hyron Andrews paid emotional tribute in France

Andrews died successful France connected Friday portion connected circuit with the Johannesburg Lions during the Champions Cup rugby tournament.

Players person stood with their heads bowed, immoderate crying, during a minute’s soundlessness for South African rugby subordinate Hyron Andrews earlier a Champions Cup crippled betwixt French broadside La Rochelle and the Johannesburg-based Lions.

Andrews, 31, died successful France connected Friday connected the eve of the game, which was played astatine the Marcel-Deflandre Stadium successful La Rochelle. SA Rugby, the governing assemblage successful South Africa, and the Lions confirmed the 31-year-old fastener forward’s death.

The fig 5 garment formerly worn by the subordinate was placed connected the field, and his look was shown connected the large surface wrong the stadium with his afloat sanction written out: Hyron Diego Andrews.

A infinitesimal of soundlessness is observed successful representation of Hyron Andrews [Phill Magakoe/AFP]

Several Lions players were successful tears connected Saturday portion others tilted their heads backmost and closed their eyes, grabbing each different tightly by the waist.

The assemblage astatine Stade Marcel-Deflandre broke into spontaneous applause aft the infinitesimal of silence, and a La Rochelle garment was handed by the French nine to the Lions staff.

Television images showed Lions players forming a ellipse successful their dressing country moments earlier walking retired to play the match. La Rochelle players, led retired by France guardant Gregory Alldritt, wore achromatic armbands.

La Rochelle backs manager Remi Tales told lucifer broadcaster beIN SPORTS that immoderate players from the French broadside went to connection their enactment to Lions players astatine the squad edifice connected Friday. It was agreed aft discussions betwixt the 2 sides that the crippled would spell ahead, Tales added. La Rochelle won it 31-14.

La Rochelle authoritative Arnaud Laraize told The Associated Press quality bureau connected Friday that Andrews was recovered successful a ablution cubicle, which was locked from the inside, connected Friday morning. He had undergone a hammam league astir an hr earlier.

Andrews had shown nary signs of wellness problems successful the preceding days, according to his entourage. An probe into the origin of decease has been opened and an autopsy was owed to beryllium carried out.

A presumption of the Atalante Hotel, wherever Andrews died successful Sainte-Marie-de-Re successful southwestern France connected October 16, 2026 [Romain Perrocgeau/AFP]

SA Rugby said Andrews died aft a fall. The subordinate besides represented the KZN Sharks and Sale Sharks successful England.

“We are heartbroken by the passing of Hyron. He was not lone a talented rugby subordinate but besides a cherished subordinate of our Lions family, having precocious joined america this season,” said Rudolf Straeuli, the CEO of SA Rugby.

Sale Sharks joined the tributes to Andrews, sending “heartfelt condolences to his wife, their beauteous boys and the remainder of his household and friends and everyone astatine Lions Rugby”.

Andrews played 45 times for Sale.

“Hyron was conscionable a superb feline and a superb teammate. He was truthful skilled connected the tract but, disconnected it, helium was ever idiosyncratic you would privation to person a brew with,” Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson said. “He was comic and charismatic successful his ain unique, adust mode and the lads, to a man, loved playing with him and being astir him.”

Lions players observe a infinitesimal of soundlessness successful honour of their teammate Hyron Andrews [Romain Perrocheau/AFP]