Hyron Andrews's rugby journey from Paarl, through the Sharks and Sale Sharks in England, to the Lions, ended suddenly in France. The 31-year-old hooker died on Friday 16 October while touring with the Lions.
SA Rugby expressed its condolences to Andrews's family following his death. The circumstances of his death were investigated in France.
Andrews was born in Paarl and attended Hoërskool Garsfontein in Pretoria. He represented South Africa in 2015 as a member of the Junior Springboks.
His professional career took him to the Sharks in Durban, where he was part of the squad over several years. He joined Sale Sharks in England in 2024. What initially began as a short-term contract developed into a longer commitment. He played a total of 45 matches for the English club.
Andrews returned to South Africa at the end of the 2025/26 season to join the Lions. His death came shortly after the start of this new chapter in his rugby career.
Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby, said the news was devastating. He expressed his condolences to Andrews's wife, Maighlin, his extended family, friends, teammates and loved ones.
Sale Sharks also remembered Andrews as a beloved former teammate. The club's director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, described him as an outstanding player and teammate who made a special impression on people through his personality.
Andrews's career took him between different clubs and countries, but he remained part of the South African rugby community. His death leaves his family, current teammates and former rugby colleagues in mourning.
Source: SA Rugby; Sale Sharks.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
