Arabic version: وفاة لاعب من ليونز الجنوب أفريقي في فرنسا

According to ABC News, a South African rugby union player has died in a hotel in France, one day before the Lions were due to make their European Champions Cup debut against La Rochelle.

French media reported that the player was found unconscious in a shower cubicle at a hotel on the Ile de Re in La Rochelle on Friday. The Lions had been staying there since Tuesday.

Emergency services were called shortly after 10am to treat the player, who was in cardio-respiratory arrest. Reports said resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.

South Africa Rugby said the player’s identity would not be announced while team officials contacted his family in South Africa. The Lions did not respond to requests for comment.

The scheduled La Rochelle match was in doubt, as were two United Rugby Championship fixtures the Lions are due to play in Scotland over the following fortnight. European Professional Club Rugby said no decision had been made on the La Rochelle fixture and it would consult the Lions.