Former Sale Sharks second row Hyron Andrews has died at his Johannesburg Lions team hotel before the Lions' Champions Cup match at La Rochelle on Saturday. SA Rugby said his death was an "accident" and that the 31-year-old had died after a fall.
Lions chief executive Rudolf Straeuli said the club was "heartbroken" by the loss. "He was not only a gifted rugby player, but also a cherished member of our Lions family having recently joined us this season," Straeuli said. He extended sympathies to Andrews' wife Maighlin, their sons Hendrix and Emerson, and the wider Andrews family.
The Lions will still play the fixture against La Rochelle, which kicks off at 17:30 BST, in Andrews' honour, and a moment's silence will be observed at all the opening round's fixtures. South African Rugby Union president Mark Alexander described the news as "terrible and distressing" and said there were no words to convey the shock felt across the sport.
Andrews had left Sale in the summer to return to South Africa, having made 45 appearances for the club after joining in February 2024 from the Sharks as injury cover. Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson called him "a brilliant guy and a brilliant team-mate" and said he had made a second home in Manchester. Andrews had represented the Junior Springboks in 2015 but had yet to earn senior international honours.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing