{
  "id": 15388075,
  "title": "Why Lions opted to play Champions Cup match: ‘A deep care for each other,’ says Van Rooyen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/why-lions-opted-to-play-champions-cup-match-a-deep-care-for-each",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T09:18:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby/why-lions-opted-to-play-champions-cup-match-a-deep-care-for-each-other/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Stormers and Bulls secured bonus point victories in the opening round of the Champions Cup, while the Lions displayed remarkable bravery by playing their inaugural match just a day after the unfortunate passing of teammate Hyron Andrews. When the devastating news reached the Lions on Friday morning that Andrews had been found unresponsive at the team hotel in France, the team's decision to still compete was an unexpected surprise. Deep emotions prevailed prior to the game against La Rochelle, with Andrews' No. 5 jersey placed in front of the Lions players during a moment of silence. During this somber ceremony, several players were seen weeping. The stadium crowd honored the gesture by clapping for a minute at the five-minute mark of the match and providing an overwhelming standing ovation after the game concluded. While the outcome was not the Lions' primary focus, they can be immensely proud of their actions that day. Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen expressed his admiration for the decision, stating that it illustrated the man Hyron was—a humble, gentle individual who brought people together. He further highlighted the team's remarkable unity and willingness to prioritize the greater good over personal interests. The respect shown by the crowd and staff left van Rooyen astounded, with continuous applause from the time the team arrived until their departure. The Lions also received support from five players of the visiting La Rochelle team, including three South Africans—Salmaan Moerat, Dillyn Leyds, and David Kriel—who visited the Lions for dinner on Friday and after the match on Saturday. Van Rooyen expressed immense pride in his players for their outstanding character displayed.",
  "summary": "Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has spoken about the decision to play their Champions Cup match, a day after the death of Hyron Andrews.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "John Dobson expresses sympathy for Lions after tragic death of Hyron Andrews",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/john-dobson-expresses-sympathy-for-lions-after-tragic-death-of-hyron",
        "published": "2026-10-18T04:45:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}