A member of the Lions rugby squad was discovered dead in the team’s hotel on the eve of their Champions Cup match against La Rochelle. The player was found unconscious in the shower after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest.
Emergency responders were unable to revive the unnamed athlete at the Atalante-Relais Thalasso hotel on the Île de Ré. Lions players and staff have been notified and are currently receiving support services.
The squad had travelled to Europe for their debut in the premier tournament following a 57-15 defeat against their domestic rivals, the Bulls. Tournament organiser European Professional Club Rugby confirmed the player’s family was being notified while withholding further details. Their South African rivals, the Lions had been preparing to make their debut in the top-tier tournament on Saturday having flown to Europe after a heavy 57-15 defeat by the Bulls.
This incident coincides with the tenth anniversary of Munster coach Anthony Foley’s death in a Paris hotel room in 2016. Foley passed away in his sleep aged 42 prior to a European fixture against Racing 92 due to a heart condition. Tributes are scheduled ahead of Munster’s match against Racing in Cork, where players will wear commemorative jackets featuring the club crest and Foley’s former number 8 position.
