Lions and Sale Sharks led heartfelt tributes to Hyron Andrews during their matches on Saturday, following the untimely death of the South African lock at the age of 31. Andrews passed away at the Lions' team hotel just a day before their Champions Cup pool game against La Rochelle in France.

The Lions decided to proceed with the match to honor Andrews, ultimately losing 31-14. Head coach Ivan van Rooyen explained the decision, stating, "It's been a tough 24 hours and we've decided to celebrate Hyron, show respect to his wife and his children, and celebrate life. It gets taken away so quickly."

Van Rooyen emphasized the importance of the tribute over the match outcome:

It's not about winning or losing today. It's not about rugby. We want to show the respect to Hyron, who was an unbelievable guy, an unbelievable player, a world-class dad and a world-class husband.

As the Lions players took the field, they received prolonged applause from La Rochelle supporters, marking a poignant moment. A minute's silence was observed, with both teams wearing black armbands. Several players were visibly emotional, and Andrews' number five jersey was laid on the turf as a tribute.

In a touching gesture, South African players Dillyn Leyds and Salmaan Moerat from La Rochelle presented a commemorative jersey to the Lions, symbolizing unity in grief and respect for a beloved player.