Lions release statement on cause of death for Hyron Andrews

by RugbyLAD Team · October 21, 2026

The Lions have confirmed that Hyron Andrews died of natural causes after an autopsy found he had suffered an aortic dissection.

The 31-year-old second row passed away at the team’s hotel in France on Friday, ahead of their Champions Cup fixture against La Rochelle.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Andrews family, the Lions confirmed the findings of the examination carried out by French authorities. An aortic dissection is a tear in the inner lining of the aorta, the main artery carrying blood from the heart.

The club said the tear had led to blood accumulating in the sac surrounding his heart. Andrews’ body remains in France ahead of his repatriation to South Africa.

His wife Maighlin, with whom he had two young sons, has asked for “respect, privacy and patience during this difficult time as the repatriation process begins.”

Andrews joined the Johannesburg-based Lions this summer after spending two-and-a-half seasons with Sale Sharks.

His teammates went ahead with Saturday’s match against La Rochelle in his honour. Home supporters applauded the Lions into Stade Marcel-Deflandre, while several players were visibly emotional during the minute’s silence before kick-off.

Sale also paid tribute to their former teammate, with director of rugby Alex Sanderson saying his squad “to a man, loved playing with Hyron and being around him”.