Former Sale Sharks second-row, Hyron Andrews, who was found dead at his new team's hotel in France ahead of a European Champions Cup match on Saturday, died of natural causes, an autopsy has found.
The 31-year-old, who joined Johannesburg-based Lions this summer, suffered a tear in the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
The rupture caused blood to accumulate in the sac surrounding his heart.
Andrews was found unconscious in a shower cubicle at the team's hotel. Investigators had initially considered several possible causes of death, including a fall, a heart attack and an aneurysm, which occurs when a blood vessel bulges and ruptures.
An aortic tear is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that can be associated with undetected high blood pressure or a congenital defect.
Andrews' body is yet to be returned to his native South Africa.
His wife, Maighlin, with whom he had two young sons, has appealed for respect, privacy and patience as the repatriation process begins, according to a statement from the Lions.
His teammates went ahead with their match against French side La Rochelle on Saturday in his honour.
The Lions were applauded into the Stade Marcel-Deflandre by home supporters, while several players were seen in tears during a minute's silence before kick-off.
Sale Sharks, where Andrews spent two and a half seasons, also paid tribute to the former player.
The club's director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, said the team had, “to a man, loved playing with Hyron and being around him”.
