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Lions rugby club player found dead in France ahead of Champions Cup match

Published 14:10 16 Oct 2026 BST

Updated 16:30 16 Oct 2026 BST

Harry Warner
Lions rugby club player found dead in France ahead of Champions Cup match

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A rugby player from the South African club Lions has been found dead in France ahead of a Champions Cup match, as per reports.

As reported by Ici La Rochelle, a player from the club was found in the team hotel on l'île de Ré, a island just off the coast of the French city of La Rochelle.

This comes a day ahead of the clubs Champions Cup match against Stade Rochelais.

As per reports, the player was found in a shower cubicle unresponsive in cardiorespiratory arrest, but was not able to be resuscitated by paramedics who were called to the scene at around 10.20am local time (9.20 UK time).

The player has not been named, but is reported to be in his thirties.

ICI La Rochelle report that a pyschological support group has been set up at the hotel for the staff and players of the team.

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