Lock Hyron Andrews, 31, is found dead in shower at French hotel on eve of Champions Cup debut

Hyron Andrews, a married father of two young sons, was discovered unresponsive in a locked shower cubicle at the Atalante-Relais Thalasso hotel on the Île de Ré, France, on Friday morning. Paramedics found the 31-year-old in cardiac arrest and were unable to revive him. French prosecutors have opened an investigation, with accidental death currently the leading line of inquiry, and an autopsy is due to be carried out.

Andrews had joined the Lions this season after two years with Sale Sharks and was preparing for the club's FIRST EVER Champions Cup match, against La Rochelle on Saturday.

His teammates have chosen to play Saturday's fixture in his honour; a moment's silence will be held before every Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup match this weekend.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said: 'There are no words to adequately convey our shock' — Andrews leaves behind wife Maighlin and sons Hendrix and Emerson.