South African Lions player dies in hotel on Île de Ré before Champions Cup clash
A South African Lions rugby player was found dead in a hotel shower on Île de Ré on the morning before the team’s Champions Cup game against La Rochelle.
Emergency crews responded to the Atalante-Relais Thalasso hotel on Île de Ré just after 10:20 am on Friday, where a player from the South African Lions franchise was found unresponsive in a spa shower cabin. The athlete, described as being in his thirties and based in Johannesburg, suffered cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated despite attempts by firefighters, SAMU and gendarmes. The identity of the player has not been released and the cause of death remains unknown pending an autopsy.
A gendarmerie investigation has been launched, and a psychological support cell has been provided for the remaining squad and hotel staff. The Champions Cup match against Stade Rochelais scheduled for Saturday remains undecided by the EPCR. This incident marks the Lions’ first appearance in the Champions Cup since the competition expanded to include South African teams.
Why it matters
The death of a player raises safety concerns and could affect the upcoming Champions Cup fixture.
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