Rugby player Hyron Andrews dies at French hotel before Champions Cup match
South African rugby lock Hyron Andrews, 31, died after falling at a hotel on the eve of a Champions Cup match.
Hyron Andrews, lock forward for Johannesburg Lions, died after falling at the Atalante-Relais Thalasso hotel on Île de Ré, France. Emergency services could not revive him.
Andrews, who also played for KZN Sharks and Sale Sharks in England, was 31. South African Rugby said the death was a tragic accident.
The Lions squad has chosen to play their Champions Cup match against La Rochelle on Saturday to honour their teammate. A moment's silence will be held before every European rugby match this weekend.
Sale Sharks, where Andrews made 45 appearances, said he was a beloved teammate and had embraced life in Manchester with his wife.
- 31
- Andrews' age
- 45
- Sale Sharks appearances
- 2015
- Junior Springboks year
- Île de Ré, France
- Location
Why it mattersThe loss of a player on the eve of a major match disrupts the team and draws attention to player safety in professional sport.
AustraliaAndrews played for South African teams with connections to Australia's rugby network; the incident echoes concerns about player welfare in international competition.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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