A player from South African franchise, the Lions, has died on the eve of their Champions Cup clash against La Rochelle on Saturday.

According to multiple reports the player, who was in his 30s but has not been named, was found unresponsive in a shower at the team’s hotel on the Ile de Re on Friday morning. Emergency services were called to the hotel shortly after 10:20am.

The player was reportedly in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived and despite efforts to resuscitate him, they were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Management at the Hotel Atalante – Relais Thalasso, where the Lions were staying ahead of Saturday’s match against La Rochelle, confirmed that psychological support had been arranged for hotel staff and members of the team.

The incident comes with the Lions, who play at the iconic Ellis Park in Johannesburg, due to play their first ever match in the European Cup against the winners of the competition in 2022 and 2023.

The fixture is almost certain to be postponed.

The tragedy comes with European Rugby preparing to remember the passing of Munster great Anthony Foley, who died in his hotel room 10 years ago before a game in Paris.

Foley was teammates and won two European Cups with Ronan O'Gara, who is now the Director of Rugby at La Rochelle, who the Lions were due to play on Saturday.