Lions rugby mourn Hyron Andrews before Edinburgh match

The Lions play Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship at the Hive on Friday 23 October (kick-off 8.45pm), a week after the death of second row Hyron Andrews. The 31-year-old, who joined the Johannesburg-based club this summer, died on the Friday night before the Lions’ Champions Cup match against La Rochelle in France.

Edinburgh lead the URC after three wins from three. The Lions travelled to Scotland straight after the La Rochelle game and also face Glasgow Warriors on tour. They will not return home until the November international break.

Tributes to Hyron Andrews

His body had not yet been returned to South Africa at the time of the latest update. His wife Maighlin, with whom he had two young sons, asked in a statement issued through the Lions for “respect, privacy and patience during this difficult time as the repatriation process begins”. Sale, where Andrews spent two and a half seasons, also paid tribute. Director of rugby Alex Sanderson said his team “to a man, loved playing with Hyron and being around him”.

How the Lions decided to play and prepare

The Lions put the question of whether to play La Rochelle to a vote among the players. Scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys said the options were to postpone by a day, play, or forfeit, and that the discussion took place on the Friday. “When the decision was made that we are going to honour Hyron and his family by playing, the decision was made,” he said. The squad skipped the captain’s run, took the afternoon off and spent the evening together.

The Lions lost the match 31-14. Home supporters applauded them into the Stade Marcel-Deflandre, and several players were in tears during the minute’s silence. Speaking on Tuesday, Redelinghuys said: “There’s no manual for this. We don’t know how the players are going to respond. We can only do what we can to support the guys as much as we can.”

Scottish rugby tribute to Hyron Andrews at the Hive

Edinburgh have confirmed that the crowd at the Hive will be asked to stand and applaud in the fifth minute. Andrews wore the number five shirt. Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt, who coached Andrews at the Sharks, contacted Lions chief executive Rudolf Straeuli and coach Van Rooyen on Sunday to offer his condolences and support.

Everitt has arranged to meet Van Rooyen with some Edinburgh players, and players and management from both clubs have been invited to meet for coffee before the match. He described Andrews as “unassuming, well-mannered, respected by every member of his team, and very humble”. He said the player was known as “Ice Man” because “he was always chilled and relaxed”.

Of the Lions’ response in France, Everitt said: “They’ve shown tremendous courage and bravery to have got through that game on Saturday.” He added that the club had chosen to “celebrate the life of Hyron”, which he called “brilliant”.

Edinburgh’s form and what comes next

Edinburgh lost to Toulon in the European Challenge Cup last Friday. Everitt said the side had “fixed the wrongs” and wanted to “continue on the momentum that we’ve gained in the first three rounds”. He said the Lions “thrive on the scraps of the game” and have “added to their depth”.

Friday’s other matchday four fixtures are Cardiff Rugby v Sharks and Connacht v Zebre, both at 8.45pm. The Lions’ next URC fixture after Edinburgh is against Glasgow Warriors, before the squad returns home for the November international break.