Lions and Sale Sharks were among the clubs to pay tribute to Hyron Andrews at their matches on Saturday, following the South African’s death aged 31.
Former Sale lock Andrews died at the Lions’ team hotel on Friday, a day before their Champions Cup pool game against La Rochelle in France.
The Lions, who said they would fulfil the fixture in Andrews’ honour, lost 31-14.
Asked before the match why the Lions had chosen to play, head coach Ivan van Rooyen said: “It’s been a tough 24 hours and we’ve decided to celebrate Hyron, show respect to his wife and his children, and celebrate life. It gets taken away so quickly.
“We’ve had hundreds and thousands of messages from all over the world.
“It’s not about winning or losing today. It’s not about rugby.
“We want to show the respect to Hyron, who was an unbelievable guy, an unbelievable player, a world-class dad and a world-class husband.
“Us arriving for the game shows how much he means to us and how much it means to everyone.”
There was prolonged applause from La Rochelle supporters as the Lions players entered the field, and also after the minute’s silence that was observed before kick-off.
Both sides wore black armbands and several players shed tears during the period of silence, while Andrews’ number five jersey was laid out on the turf in front of the Lions’ team.
Three South African players in La Rochelle’s squad – Dillyn Leyds, David Kriel and Salmaan Moerat – then presented a commemorative jersey to their opponents.
There were pre-match tributes before all of this weekend’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixtures, including at Andrews’ former club Sale.
Andrews spent just over two years with the Prem club before departing at the end of last season and returning to his native South Africa.
Speaking after their 47-27 loss to Glasgow Warriors, Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I am really impressed with how the lads have come together, looked after each other and got tighter in the trauma of it.
“It is a good indication of the strength of the squad and the depth of the culture, how much they want to get around each other and get through it together.
“Hyron represents a large portion of the squad, in that he came here under-rated and got opportunities to show what he is capable of.
“He forwarded his career, made Manchester his second home, settled with his wife and had another child.
“He left with a lot of good mates and people who consider him as one of their best mates. His impact and what he gave off the field was far more from what he gave on it. It is still really raw to process.
“His two boys are too young to really fathom what is going on but I know the lads close to Hyron have been speaking to his two boys already this morning.
“We will help their family get through it.”