Lions Rugby have issued a statement confirming the cause of Hyron Andrews’ death.

The rugby world was in mourning last Friday when the news broke that Andrews had passed away in a hotel in France ahead of the Johannesburg club’s Investec Champions Cup fixture against La Rochelle.

The Lions decided to honour the 31-year-old by opting not to postpone the match versus La Rochelle, which the home side eventually won 31-14.

Lions issue a statement on behalf of Hyron Andrews’ family

Instead, a moment of silence was impeccably observed before kick-off, with some of the players shedding tears while paying their respects to their former teammate. Furthermore, the crowd applauded throughout the 5th minute of the match in tribute to Andrews.

On Wednesday, the Lions Rugby Company issued a statement confirming that French authorities had completed the autopsy and disclosed the findings.

“Lions Rugby Company, on behalf of the Andrews family, confirms that, following an autopsy report, Hyron’s death was found to be caused by an aortic dissection. This dissection most likely occurred on an aortic aneurysm,” the statement read.

“The French authorities, who conducted the autopsy and, in whose care Hyron’s body currently remains, described the cause of death as ‘a tear in the aorta (due to natural causes), which led to a significant accumulation of blood within the sac surrounding the heart.'”

Speaking after the defeat to La Rochelle, Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen said the decision to play, and the reaction it provoked, spoke volumes about the man they had lost.

“The responses from all over the world on the team’s decision to play speaks to the man Hyron was,” he said. “He was a humble, gentle guy who people gravitated towards. He had the ability to pull people closer together.

“The team’s decision to play also speaks to the character of the team, the deep care for each other. The willingness to sacrifice self for a greater good.”