Former Sale Sharks lock Andrews dies at team hotel in La Rochelle
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No new development is specified in the supplied article text: it reports that former Sale Sharks lock Hyron Andrews died after a fall at the Johannesburg Lions’ team hotel in La Rochelle. South African Rugby Union described his death as an accident, and the 31-year-old’s passing prompted tributes from both clubs and the wider rugby community.
The Lions said they would play their Champions Cup fixture against La Rochelle in Andrews’ honour, with a moment’s silence at all opening-round matches. He joined Sale in February 2024, made 45 appearances and returned to South Africa at the end of last season; he had recently joined the Lions and played in all three of their United Rugby Championship games this season. He leaves his wife, Maighlin, and their two young sons.
- Hyron Andrews died after a fall at the Lions’ team hotel in La Rochelle.
- South African Rugby Union said his death was accidental.
- The Lions will play in his honour, with tributes at opening-round fixtures.
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Hyron Andrews was a South African rugby union player who played as a lock, a forward position involved in line-outs and physical contests. He played for Sale Sharks in England from February 2024, making 45 appearances, before returning to South Africa and joining the Lions.
Sale Sharks and the Lions are professional rugby clubs, and the Lions compete in the United Rugby Championship and European Champions Cup. Andrews’ death brought tributes from both clubs and the wider rugby community, and the Lions said they would dedicate a match to his memory.
Full account
Former Sale Sharks lock Hyron Andrews has died at the age of 31 while staying with the Lions in La Rochelle, ahead of their European Champions Cup match against the French side. The South African team confirmed his death on Friday. South Africa’s rugby union described it as an accident following a fall; a separate report, citing French media, said he had been found unresponsive in a shower and referred to a suspected heart attack. The accounts differ, and the available reports do not establish a single cause.
The Lions said Andrews had recently joined the club and was on tour with the team. Chief executive Rudolf Straeuli offered condolences to Andrews’ wife, Maighlin, their young sons and the wider family, describing him as a valued member of the Lions. The club said the match would go ahead, with players intending to honour their team-mate on the field. The first report also said a minute’s silence would be observed at the opening round’s fixtures. The second reported that French media said psychological support had been arranged for Lions players and staff, as well as hotel workers.
Andrews spent most of his playing career in South Africa, joining the Durban-based Sharks’ academy in 2014 and making his senior debut in 2016. He later moved to Sale, initially on a short-term deal, and made 45 appearances for the English club after arriving in February 2024. Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson remembered him as a skilled player, popular team-mate and devoted family man. Andrews returned to South Africa at the end of last season to join the Lions.
He had represented South Africa at under-20 level in 2015 but had not earned a senior international cap. The reports give different detail about his playing record at the Sharks: one notes that he played alongside several future World Cup-winning Springboks, while the other says he made 83 appearances and was part of the side that reached the 2023 Champions Cup quarter-finals. Both accounts describe his death as a profound loss to his clubs and the wider rugby community.
Where outlets differ
The reports give different accounts of the circumstances and possible cause of death. SA Rugby described it as an accidental death after a fall, while the second report cited French media describing a player found unresponsive in a shower and called a heart attack suspected; that report does not identify its cause as confirmed.
The first report says a minute’s silence would be held at all opening-round fixtures. The second focuses on the Lions playing the match in Andrews’ honour and says players wanted to pay tribute on the field.
The second report provides more detail about Andrews’ Sharks career, including 83 appearances, while the first highlights the Springbok players he played alongside there.