Following the support they received from the rugby community after Hyron Andrews’ death, Julian Redelinghuys says the Lions have found some closure and are trying to refocus.
The assistant coach spoke ahead of Friday night’s URC clash in Edinburgh, less than a week on from Andrews’ sudden passing before the Joburg-based club’s Investec Champions Cup debut against La Rochelle at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
Ivan van Rooyen’s Pride played the match on Saturday in honour of the 31-year-old lock and competed bravely in a 31-14 defeat.
ALSO: Duhan in line to feed Lions
“To say it was a rough week is probably an understatement, but the support we received from almost everyone was huge,” Redelinghuys said on Tuesday.
“The sorrow everyone felt, and the way it was handled, which was respectful, felt authentic.
“The way it was handled by everyone – locally, abroad, our leadership, coaches and management and players – felt really respectful and that gave us, to a big extent, some closure.”
BUTCH: Smith is Lions’ secret weapon
Redelinghuys’ wife is a grief counsellor and had been travelling in France when the news broke. He said counselling was made available to the team as soon as possible, noting that players are seldom left alone to let thoughts run away with them.
“Everyone grieves differently. You have to respect everyone’s process,” the former Springbok prop said.
“We just said we want to be respectful towards the family at this time. That was our viewpoint from the start. How can we be most respectful towards the family, in our actions, what we decide?
“For everyone to go through this process, I think it helps being in a team.”
Tuesday was the Lions’ only training session of the short week, and Redelinghuys likened their preparations for Friday’s match at Hive Stadium to those of the Barbarians.
CASH: It spoke to the man Hyron was
“We’ve been saying this since it happened: there’s no manual for this. We don’t know how the players are going to respond.
“We can only do what we can to support the guys as much as we can and do what we think will be best for the weekend.
“I don’t think there’s any team that has had to go through a specific thing like this, where a player died in camp a day before a game and then they were on tour for another two weeks.”
He added: “Coach Jaque [Fourie] was talking to the team about when they played for the Barbarians, where you’ve got no prep. You just switch on mentally when you step between the four white lines …
“Now, to shift from the emotional side and focus on the rugby process is something that’s not easy, but we’re trying the best we can.”
According to media liaison Nyaniso Sam, the Lions will be guided by Andrews’ family on information regarding the release of his body following the autopsy in France. CEO Rudolf Straeuli has visited his widow and two children back home.
Photo: Manuel Blondeau/Inpho
The post Lions coach: There’s no manual for this appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Following the support they received from the rugby community after Hyron Andrews’ death, Julian Redelinghuys says the Lions have found some closure and are trying to refocus.
The post Lions coach: There’s no manual for this appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
