Johannesburg Lions lock forward Hyron Andrews has died following an accident at the team's hotel in France ahead of a Champions Cup match.
Key facts
- •Hyron Andrews was 31 years old at the time of his death.
- •The South African Rugby Union confirmed the death resulted from a fall.
- •Andrews previously played for the KZN Sharks and Sale Sharks.
- •The Johannesburg Lions will play their scheduled match against La Rochelle in his honor.
- •A moment of silence will be held at all EPCR matches this weekend.
Hyron Andrews, a 31-year-old lock for the Johannesburg Lions, died at the Atalante-Relais Thalasso hotel on the Île de Ré on Friday. The South African Rugby Union stated that Andrews passed away following an accident in which he fell. The team was in France to prepare for their Champions Cup debut against La Rochelle, a fixture they have decided to fulfill in his honor.
Tributes and Career Background
Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union, expressed shock and sympathy for Andrews' family, including his wife, Maighlin. The Lions organization also shared a tribute mourning the loss of a valued team member. Throughout his career, Andrews represented the KZN Sharks and the Sale Sharks, where he made 45 appearances and extended his contract through the 2025-26 campaign. He was a former Junior Springbok, having represented the team in 2015.
Tournament Commemorations
European Professional Club Rugby, the organizers of the Champions Cup, announced that a moment of silence will be observed before every Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup match scheduled for the weekend. The Lions squad chose to proceed with their match against La Rochelle as a tribute to their late teammate.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Sport, France24 Sport.
