Breaking: Lions rugby player dies suddenly in La Rochelle on eve of Champions Cup opener
TRAGEDY: La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara finds himself in the middle of another tragedy - exactly ten years to the day since the loss of the great Anthony Foley
Champions Cup organisers are expected to confirm shortly the postponement of Saturday's opening round game between Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle and the Lions after a playing member of the visiting South Africans side died Friday of an apparent heart attack.
The tragedy is a remarkable, and somewhat eerie coincidence, occurring on the tenth anniversary of the October 16, 2016 passing of Munster legend Anthony Foley in not dissimilar circumstances in France.
On both occasions, O’Gara's team was set to provide the opposition – with Racing 92 in Paris a decade ago and in La Rochelle now. The South African squad are based in Île de Ré outside the city, close to O’Gara’s home. Officials from the Johannesburg-based side confirmed the devastating news to local officials Friday morning. La Rochelle head coach O'Gara is believed to be in his way to the Lions team hotel to offer condolences and show support.
According to local reports, a player from the Johannesburg squad was found unresponsive in a shower stall at a hotel on Île de Ré. Emergency services arrived shortly after 10am but were unable to revive the player, who was in his thirties. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The hotel confirmed to local website Ici La Rochelle that a psychological support unit had been set up for the Lions franchise's players and staff, as well as the hotel personnel.
Munster paid tribute Friday to their own rugby legend Anthony Foley, who died suddenly in his Parisien hotel ten years ago on the eve of their Heineken Cup match against O'Gara's Racing 92.
O'Gara's own La Rochelle player Uini Atonio had a major scare after suffering a heart attack earlier this year, which forced his retirement.
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