Former Sale Shark lock Hyron Andrews dies at team hotel in La Rochelle
BBC Sport rugby union news reporter Mike Henson reports:
Former Sale second row Hyron Andrews has died at his Johannesburg Lions team hotel before their Champions Cup match at La Rochelle on Saturday.
A statement from SA Rugby described his death as an "accident" and noted that the 31-year-old had "died after a fall".
"We are heartbroken by the passing of Hyron," said Lions chief executive Rudolf Straeuli.
"He was not only a gifted rugby player, but also a cherished member of our Lions family having recently joined us this season."
Andrews, who made 45 appearances for Sale after joining in February 2024, had returned to his native South Africa at the end of last season. While he had not yet earned senior international honours, he had represented the Junior Springboks in 2015.
The Lions will honour Andrews by fulfilling their fixture against La Rochelle, with a minute's silence observed at all matches in his memory.
"This is terrible and distressing news; our hearts go out to Andrews' family and the whole Lions rugby community," said Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union.
Andrews' death comes a decade after Munster coach Anthony Foley died suddenly in Paris before a Champions Cup fixture.