A rugby union player has died the day before championship competition begins
The identity of the player is not yet known, as team officials work to notify his family in South Africa.
A South African rugby union player has passed away in France, just before his team was scheduled to take the field in the European Champions Cup. The unidentified athlete was discovered unconscious in a hotel shower in La Rochelle, where his team had been lodging since Tuesday. Emergency services arrived on the scene around 10 a.m. to administer life-saving measures, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
The Lions, the team the player represented, have notified his family in South Africa regarding the tragic news. However, the team's identity has yet to be officially confirmed. Saturday's Champions Cup match is now in jeopardy, as are two upcoming United Rugby Championship games the Lions were set to play in Scotland within the following two weeks.
European Professional Club Rugby has not yet decided on the La Rochelle fixture and is consulting with the Lions organization. This heartbreaking incident echoes a similar tragedy that occurred exactly ten years ago, when Anthony Foley, a coach for the Irish team Munster, died at the age of 42 in his Paris hotel room prior to a Heineken Cup match against Racing 92. O Gara currently serves as the coach for La Rochelle, and he paid tribute to the deceased athlete after learning of his passing.
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