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Emotional Lions Come up Short in Champions Cup as Tributes Paid to Andrews

La Rochelle defeated the Lions 31-14 on Saturday at Stade Marcel-Deflandre in an emotional Champions Cup debut, with both teams paying tribute to South African lock Hyron Andrews before kick-off.
Andrews, 31, was found unresponsive at the team hotel on Friday and could not be resuscitated; South Africa Rugby stated he "died after falling at the team hotel."
Rochelle secured a bonus-point victory with tries from Tevita Ofa, Oscar Jegou, Davit Niniashvili, Tolu Latu, and Avakuki Niusalelekitoga, while the Lions replied with scores from Henco van Wyk and Morne Brandon.
During a pre-match moment of silence, Lions players placed Andrews' No5 jersey on the pitch; the team decided to proceed with their debut and retired the No5 jersey for the season.
The Lions continue their European tour with upcoming United Rugby Championship fixtures, facing Edinburgh next Friday and Glasgow Warriors the week after their Champions Cup debut.

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Emotional Lions come up short in Champions Cup as tributes paid to Andrews

The whole stadium observed a minute's silence while Andrews's No.5 shirt was laid on the pitch before kick-off. La Rochelle's three South African players presented a jersey to their visitors in memory of the player, who died on Friday at Lions' hotel on the nearby Ile de Re. A source close to the investigation said that Andrews, who was 31, was found in cardiac arrest in a shower cubicle that was locked from the inside. Andrews's death came exac…

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