A rugby union player has died the day before championship competition begins

In short:

A South African rugby union player has died in France.

He reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest and was found unconscious in a hotel shower.

What's next?

Team officials are working to notify the player's family. 

A South African rugby union player has died in a hotel in France, the day before the team were set to make their debut in the European Champions Cup.

French media reports said the Lions player was found unconscious in a shower cubicle at a hotel on the Ile de Re in La Rochelle on Friday, where the team had been staying since Tuesday.

South Africa Rugby officials said the identity of the player has not been announced while the team contacts his family in South Africa.

Emergency services were called shortly after 10am to treat the player, who was in cardio-respiratory arrest.

The reports said their attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Saturday's match is now in doubt, along with two United Rugby Championship fixtures the Lions are scheduled to play in Scotland over the next fortnight.

The Lions did not respond to requests for comment.

European Professional Club Rugby confirmed no decision had yet been made on the La Rochelle fixture and that it would consult the Lions.

The death comes 10 years to the day after Anthony Foley, a coach for the Irish team Munster, passed away at the age of 42 in his Paris hotel ahead of a Heineken Cup match against compatriot Ronan O'Gara's French club, Racing 92.

O'Gara is now the coach of La Rochelle, and according to Irish media, he visited the Lions at their hotel on Friday to offer his condolences.