Former Sale Sharks lock Hyron Andrews has died following a fall at the Johannesburg Lions’ team hotel in France.
The 31-year-old could not be revived by emergency services after the alarm was raised at the Atalante-Relais Thalasso hotel on the Ile de Re, an island off the Atlantic coast of France near La Rochelle.
A source close to the investigation said that the emergency services arrived at the hotel in Sainte-Marie-de-Re around 10:15am on Friday, where they found Andrews unresponsive and in cardiac arrest in a shower cubicle.
An investigation into the cause of death has now been opened.
The South African Rugby Union confirmed in a statement the 31-year-old had died after falling at the team’s hotel.
Andrews also played for KZN Sharks in Durban before moving to England in 2024, initially on a short-term deal, and had made three appearances for the Lions in this season’s United Rugby Championship.
‘This is terrible and distressing news; our hearts go out to Hyron’s family and the whole Lions rugby community,’ SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said on the governing body’s website.
‘There are no words to adequately convey our shock and the depth of sympathy we feel for his wife Maighlin, and for his extended family, friends, team-mates and loved ones during this time of immense sorrow.
‘Hyron was a respected member of the rugby community whose contribution to the game and impact on those around him will be remembered with great fondness.
‘His untimely passing is a devastating loss, and we share in the grief of all who knew and loved him.’
Lions confirmed the team would play the game against La Rochelle ‘in honour of Hyron’.
‘We are heartbroken by the passing of Hyron. He was not only a gifted rugby player, but also a cherished member of our Lions family having recently joined us this season,’ Lions Rugby chief executive Rudolf Straeuli said in a statement.
‘On behalf of our chairman, Mr Altmann Allers, the board and everyone at the Lions, I extend our deepest sympathies to Maighlin, their young sons Hendrix and Emerson and the entire Andrews family.
‘We stand with them in their sorrow and will remember Hyron with great affection and respect.’
Sale reflected on the loss of a ‘much-loved member’ of their squad, with Andrews making 45 appearances for the club.
‘Hyron was just a brilliant guy and a brilliant team-mate. He was so skilled on the field, but off it, he was always someone you would want to have a beer with,’ Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson said on the club website.
‘He was funny and charismatic in his own unique, dry way and the lads, to a man, loved playing with him and being around him.’