The Lions Rugby Company have confirmed that their lock Hyron Andrews died suddenly after suffering an "aortic aneurysm".
Andrews was found unresponsive in a shower stall at the team's hotel in France and could not be revived.
His sudden death shocked the rugby world and led to a minute's silence across all games in the Investec Champions and EPCR Challenge Cup games this past weekend.
In a statement, the Lions Rugby Company, on behalf of his family, said that Andrews had suffered the aneurysm as a result of a tear in the aortic valve - which is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
An official statement regarding the cause of Hyron’s passing has been released. https://t.co/x1YrgqHwWT https://t.co/P7wspTie63
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) October 21, 2026
The report indicates this tear most likely happened because he had an aortic aneurysm — an unknown or pre-existing weak, bulging spot in the artery wall.
The tear caused blood to rapidly leak and collect in the sac surrounding his heart, which prevented his heart from beating properly. The authorities confirmed this was due to natural causes (a sudden, severe health event, rather than an accident, injury, or foul play).
"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.”
"The Andrews family asks for respect, privacy and patience during this difficult time as the repatriation process begins.
"A timeline for the return of Hyron’s body to South Africa has not yet been determined. Further information will be communicated when it becomes available and under the guidance of the family."
The Lions said on Monday that they were assisting the family where they could, both with repatriation attempts and with help surrounding the funeral arrangements.
The team, meanwhile, have moved to Edinburgh to fulfill the first of two more fixtures in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship against Scottish side Edinburgh on Friday.
They will then face Glasgow Warriors a week later before returning to Johannesburg.
It is expected the funeral will take place only when they get back and Andrews' body has been repatriated.