Hyron Andrews’ wife: ‘Sometimes I think he’s just on tour’

The wife of late Lions rugby player Hyron Andrews has revealed that she sometimes believes her husband is simply away on another rugby tour.

Her admission comes two weeks after the 31-year-old lock was found unresponsive in a shower at the Lions’ team hotel in France on Friday, 16 October.

Andrews was discovered in a shower cubicle on Île de Ré, where the team was staying ahead of their Champions Cup clash against La Rochelle. Emergency workers were unable to revive him.

According to a report, his wife, Maighlin, has struggled to come to terms with his sudden death.

“Sometimes I think he isn’t dead, just on tour,” she said.

The couple have two young sons, Hendrix and Emerson.

Lions struggle with loss of teammate

Maighlin’s interview comes as the Lions face their own struggle to come to terms with Andrews’ death.

The Johannesburg side ended their European tour with a 29–20 defeat to Glasgow Warriors in Scotland on Friday, 30 October.

It was their third consecutive defeat on a tour overshadowed by the sudden loss of their teammate.

Lions assistant coach Wessel Roux admitted ahead of the match that players were still struggling.

“Everybody has reacted towards the tragedy in a different way,” Roux said.

He said the team had tried to concentrate on rugby despite the circumstances.

“But it’s madness to think that we can forget about something that happened to us about ten days ago. That’s impossible.”

Emotional tributes to Hyron Andrews

The Lions honoured Andrews during their match against La Rochelle, placing his No 5 jersey on the field during a minute’s silence.

Several players broke down in tears as supporters paid tribute to the former Sharks and Sale Sharks lock.

The team also retired his jersey number for the remainder of its Champions Cup campaign.

Maighlin previously shared a Facebook tribute to her husband, describing the future they had planned together and her hopes for their sons.

She asked friends, family and former teammates to share photographs and memories of Andrews so the boys could grow up knowing more about their father.

What caused Hyron Andrews’ death?

The Lions confirmed on 21 October that Andrews died from an aortic dissection, following an autopsy conducted by French authorities.

The condition involves a tear in the aorta, the body’s main artery.

The club previously said arrangements were being made to return his body to South Africa.