South African rugby player dies in France; teammates weep during minute of silence before match

The death of South African rugby player Hyron Andrews in France has cast a shadow of mourning over a Champions Cup match. During a minute of silence before the match began, the players stood with their heads bowed, and some of them were crying.

Andrews was 31 years old. He died in France on Friday while on a Champions Cup rugby tournament tour with the Johannesburg Lions. South Africa's rugby body, SA Rugby, and the Lions confirmed the death of the 31-year-old lock forward.

Andrews died the day before Saturday's match between the French team La Rochelle and the Johannesburg-based Lions at La Rochelle's Stade Marcel-Deflandre; the game was held in the evening following his death.

The number five jersey the player previously wore had been placed on the field. His face was shown on the stadium's big screen, along with his full name, Hyron Diego Andrews.

Several Lions players were tearful on Saturday, while others leaned their heads back, closed their eyes and held each other tightly around the waist.

After the moment of silence ended, the stadium crowd burst into spontaneous applause. A La Rochelle jersey was presented by the French club La Rochelle to the Lions staff.

Television pictures showed the Lions players forming a circle in their dressing room shortly before coming onto the field. The La Rochelle players, who came onto the field led by France forward Grégory Alldritt, wore black armbands.

La Rochelle's backs coach, Rémy Tallès, told the match broadcaster that several players of the French team had gone to the team's hotel on Friday to offer support to the Lions players. He also said the decision for the match to go ahead was taken after discussions between the two sides. La Rochelle won the match 31-14.

La Rochelle prosecutor Arnaud Larreze told a news agency on Friday that Andrews was found on Friday morning in a shower cubicle that was locked from the inside. About an hour earlier, he had taken a hammam session.

According to his teammates, Andrews had shown no signs of health problems in the preceding days. An investigation into the cause of death has begun, and an autopsy was to be carried out.

SA Rugby said Andrews died from a fall. The player also represented the KZN Sharks and Sale Sharks in England.

Rudolf Straeuli said they are heartbroken by Hyron's death. He was not only a talented rugby player but also a beloved member of the Lions family, and he had joined the team just this season.

Sale Sharks also paid tribute to Andrews, expressing heartfelt condolences to his wife, their beautiful sons, and to all of his family, friends and Lions Rugby. Sale Sharks' director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, said Hyron was a great person and a great teammate; on the field he was extremely skilled, and off the field he was someone everyone wanted to spend time with. Sanderson also said he was funny and engaging in his own unique way, and that everyone in the team loved playing with him and being around him.