South African Lions player found dead in hotel near La Rochelle before match

A South African player with the Johannesburg Lions was found dead Friday morning at a hotel on Île de Ré in Charente-Maritime, the day before a Champions Cup match against La Rochelle. He was found in cardiorespiratory arrest in a shower cabin locked from the inside. La Rochelle prosecutor Arnaud Laraize opened an investigation into the cause of death and said an accidental death was the leading theory.