A player from South Africa’s Lions rugby team died on Friday at the team's hotel in France, the day before the club are due to make their debut in the European Champions Cup away at La Rochelle
Friday 16 October 2026 13:59, UK
A member of South Africa's Lions rugby playing squad has died in France ahead of Saturday's Champions Cup fixture against La Rochelle.
According to French media reports, the player was found unconscious in a shower cubicle at a hotel on the Ile de Re - an island off France's western coast connected to the mainland by a bridge near La Rochelle - where the team had been staying since Tuesday.
Emergency services were called shortly after 10am and attended to the player, who was in cardiorespiratory arrest. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, the reports added.
The Lions were due to make their debut in the competition, but the match is now in doubt, as are two more matches in Scotland in the United Rugby Championship that they were due to play over the next fortnight.
The player's identity has not yet been disclosed.