The South African rugby public are in mourning after the shock news of former Springbok Cornal Hendricks’ death in the late hours of Wednesday night.
According to early reports, Hendricks, aged 37, suffered a heart attack. The 12-times capped Springbok returned to the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers earlier this year to help the team qualify for the Currie Cup Premier Division after his contract at the Vodacom Bulls came to an end last year.
Hendricks Had An Established Career
He represented the Bulls from the 2018/19 season, playing in 73 games (Super Rugby, Currie Cup, and United Rugby Championship) and helping the Pretoria outfit win back-to-back Currie Cup titles.
Before his time at the Bulls, Hendricks rose to fame as a stalwart of the Cavaliers team that won the 2011 Currie Cup First Division title and later got selected to play for the Springbok Sevens (Blitzboks) team before signing with the Toyota Cheetahs in 2014 where his exploits for the Bloemfontein outfit led to him being called up to the Springboks by then coach Heyneke Meyer.
But just as Hendricks was making his mark in the green and gold, medical advice forced him to quit the professional game, although the Wellington born legend never gave up hope on returning to the professional level.
And it almost happened for him in 2016 when he signed for French outfit Toulon, only for the same medical condition to stop him from ever getting to play for the club.
The Bulls however took a chance on Hendricks when they signed him in 2018 with the Bolander making an almost immediate impact as the Bulls won the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Currie Cup Premier Division.
White: Rugby Lost A Good Guy
And of the legacy he left behind as a Bulls player, Bulls Director of Rugby, Jake White, says:
When we had the opportunity to get him back on the park, he took that with open arms and made a remarkable use of his second lease in professional rugby. We all witnessed him leave no stone unturned as he inspired his teammates and the South African community through his story of hope and courage.
It was a privilege and honour to have been his coach, a fantastic role model for the next generation and his appetite for life was infectious. Rugby has lost one of the good ones today.
Meanwhile Bulls CEO, Edgar Rathbone, adds of the sad passing:
We are deeply saddened and still trying to come to terms with the passing of Cornal, a loved member of the Loftus family who was more than a talented player. He knew how to deliver just about the right dose of energy to help lift a room, he was an iconic teammate, a friend for many seasons, and an inspirational figure in the locker room, a brother, a son and an inspiration to both the old and young. A man with such an infectious smile that brightened our world, and above all, we knew Cornal as a proud dad to his young kids. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family, his wife, children and everyone else who is affected by his untimely and tragic death. A special player who defied all the odds and became our inspiration for everyone, may he rest in perfect peace.
This is a developing story and Telecom Asia Sport will provide further updates on the tragic passing of Hendricks in the days to come.
