Arabic version: وفاة لاعب سيل السابق هايرون أندروز في لا روشيل

According to BBC News, former Sale Sharks second row Hyron Andrews has died at Johannesburg Lions’ team hotel in La Rochelle before Saturday’s Champions Cup match. SA Rugby said the 31-year-old’s death was an accident and that he died after a fall.

Lions chief executive Rudolf Straeuli said the club was heartbroken by the death of a player who had recently joined the team this season. He extended sympathies to Andrews’ wife Maighlin, their sons Hendrix and Emerson, and the wider Andrews family.

The Lions will fulfil their fixture against La Rochelle, which kicks off at 17:30 BST, in Andrews’ honour. A moment’s silence will be observed at all opening-round fixtures. South African Rugby Union president Mark Alexander described the news as terrible and distressing, offering sympathy to Andrews’ family, friends, team-mates and loved ones.

Andrews arrived at Sale in February 2024 from the Durban-based Sharks as injury cover for England international Jonny Hill. He made 45 appearances before returning to South Africa in the summer. Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson called him a brilliant player and team-mate, saying Andrews and his family had made a second home in Manchester.

Andrews had represented the Junior Springboks in 2015 but had not earned senior international honours. He played in all three of the Lions’ United Rugby Championship matches this season, making his first start for the club in Saturday’s 57-15 defeat by the Bulls.