Former Sale Sharks lock Hyron Andrews has died at the age of 31 at the team hotel where his South African side, the Lions, were preparing for their Investec Champions Cup opener against La Rochelle. Andrews joined Sale in February 2024 and made 45 appearances for the club before heading back to his native South Africa at the end of last season, and news of his death on Friday sent shockwaves through English rugby as well as his homeland.

The 31-year-old was found unconscious at a hotel on the Île de Ré, near La Rochelle, where the Lions squad had been staying since earlier in the week. According to a statement from SA Rugby, Andrews «passed away tragically, following an accident» and had «died after falling» at the hotel. French authorities have since opened an investigation into the circumstances, and an autopsy has been ordered by the local prosecutor to establish the exact cause of death, though no official findings have yet been released.

Who was Hyron Andrews?

Andrews was born in Paarl and came through South African schools rugby, representing the Blue Bulls at age-group level before being named in the South Africa Schools squad in 2012 and later turning out for the Junior Springboks. He built his senior career with the Durban-based Sharks before making the move to England.

From the Blue Bulls to Manchester

Andrews arrived at Sale Sharks in February 2024 as injury cover for England lock Jonny Hill and went on to make 45 appearances in the Gallagher Premiership. His stay extended through to the end of the 2025-26 season, and he was remembered by those at the club as a popular figure both on and off the pitch.

Back home to Johannesburg

Andrews returned to South Africa in the summer of 2026 to join the Lions ahead of the current campaign, having previously featured for his country against Leinster in the United Rugby Championship earlier this month. The move to Johannesburg was meant to bring him closer to family before his sudden death on tour in France.

Tributes pour in from Sale and beyond

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson, who worked closely with Andrews during his two years in Manchester, led the tributes from the English game.

«Hyron was just a brilliant guy and a brilliant team-mate,»
Sanderson said, adding that Andrews had made England a second home alongside his wife.

Sale Sharks themselves released a statement saying the club was «devastated» to learn of the death of their former player, while Lions chief executive Rudolf Straeuli said the squad was «heartbroken by the passing of Hyron». SA Rugby president Mark Alexander also sent condolences to Andrews’ family «during this time of immense sorrow», and tournament organisers EPCR confirmed a moment’s silence would be observed before every Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixture across the opening round this weekend.

The Champions Cup fixture will go ahead

Despite the tragedy, the Lions confirmed they will still fulfil their opening Champions Cup fixture against La Rochelle at Stade Marcel Deflandre on Saturday evening, kicking off at 17:30 BST, in honour of their late team-mate rather than seeking a postponement. It is a particularly poignant weekend for English rugby too, with Sale Sharks themselves due to open their own Champions Cup campaign on Saturday, just months after Andrews left the Premiership club he had called home.

What happens next

Andrews is survived by his wife, Maighlin, and their two young sons, Hendrix and Emerson, with the Lions, Sale Sharks and the wider game offering support to the family during the coming days. Beyond the immediate tributes, French investigators are expected to continue their inquiry into the fall that killed him, while the rugby community across England, South Africa and the rest of Europe prepares to mark his memory through this weekend’s fixtures, much as players across competitions such as the Six Nations have paused before for similar tragedies.

For now, there is no confirmed timeline for when an official cause of death will be announced, and both the Lions and Sale Sharks have asked that the privacy of Andrews’ family be respected as they grieve a player remembered as much for his character as for his ability in the second row.