Skip to the stories
Saturday, 17 October 2026
Saved
FTMQ News

Next edition

5:48

Headlines

Killarney Ireland

Lions rugby player dies in France ahead of Champions Cup match

A playing member of the visiting South African Lions rugby squad died of an apparent heart attack in La Rochelle, France, on October 16.

FTMQ News, written by our newsroom0 views

Share
Picture: irishexaminer.com

A playing member of the South African Lions rugby squad died suddenly of an apparent heart attack in La Rochelle, France, on Friday, October 16. The Irish Examiner and BreakingNews.ie both reported that the death occurred on the eve of the team's Champions Cup opening game against French club La Rochelle. [1][8]

The Irish Examiner and BreakingNews.ie both report that organisers of the Champions Cup are expected to confirm the postponement of Saturday's match between La Rochelle and the Lions shortly. La Rochelle is a seaport city on the west coast of France. [1][8][9]

The tragedy occurred on the tenth anniversary of the death of Munster rugby player Anthony Foley, who passed away on October 16, 2016. According to the Irish Examiner, La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara was a former colleague and friend of Foley. [1]

Share

In short

  • A Lions rugby player died of an apparent heart attack in La Rochelle on October 16.
  • Organisers are expected to postpone Saturday's Champions Cup game between La Rochelle and the Lions.
  • The death occurred on the 10th anniversary of the passing of Munster player Anthony Foley.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

  1. [1]Breaking: Lions rugby player dies suddenly in La Rochelle on eve of Champions Cup openeririshexaminer.com, 20h ago (the report this story comes from)
  2. [2]Champions Cup stats show hope of breaking French stranglehold is clutching at strawsirishtimes.com, 20h ago
  3. [3]Charlie O’Shea and Seán Edogbo to make Champions Cup debuts for Munsteririshtimes.com, 20h ago
  4. [4]The Champions Cup is on life support and if European rugby chiefs don't act now, the unthinkable will happen. Here are four ways to save the jewel in the sport's crown from extinction, writes ALEX BYWATERDaily Mail, 1d ago
  5. [5]Baptism of fire: Bruised Lions must respond... in Champions Cup debut against La RochelleNews24, 23h ago
  6. [6]10Bet Lions ready to hush the La Rochelle crowdSABC Sport, 21h ago
  7. [7]Lions have to ‘level up’ against La Rochelle in Champions Cup openerThe Citizen, 21h ago
  8. [8]Breaking: Lions rugby player dies suddenly in La Rochelle on eve of Champions Cup openerBreakingNews.ie, 20h ago

Background

  1. [9]La Rochelle on Wikipedia
  2. [10]UEFA Champions League on Wikipedia
  3. [11]Deaths in 2026 on Wikipedia
  4. [12]La Rochelle on Grokipedia
  5. [13]Countryfile farmer Frank Carr dies aged 35 FTMQ News, 6d ago
  6. [14]Australia beat New Zealand in Rugby League World Cup opener FTMQ News, 1d ago

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 14 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

Related from FTMQ News

Earlier reports of ours on the same people and subjects.

More in Killarney Ireland

Get the day in one email

Reports like this one, the top news of the last 24 hours, every morning. Free, one email a day; readers can comment under every report.

By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Unsubscribe any time.

Comments

Loading

Join the conversation

Comments are open to readers of our daily email: the top news of the last 24 hours, every morning, free. Sign up and the comment box opens.

Already on the list? Enter the same address and we will send a sign-in link.

By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Unsubscribe any time.