Bulls CEO pays tribute to Cornal Hendricks: 'He was a special player who defied all odds'
JOHANESBURG - South African rugby is mourning the loss of former Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks.
The 37-year-old Hendricks died on Wednesday and was most recently part of the Boland Cavaliers team that qualified for this year's Currie Cup Premier Division.
Hendricks represented the Boks in 12 internationals between 2014 and 2015, including 11 Test matches and scored five tries. After starting his professional career with Boland, he also played for the Cheetahs before a serious heart condition forced him to retire in 2016 at the age of 27.
At the time, he had signed to play for Western Province and the Stormers, but his dream move was cut short before he could represent them. He was also part of the Blitzboks team that won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.
Hendricks never gave up on the game and returned to rugby in 2019 with the Bulls in Pretoria, where he spent five seasons and won 2 Currie Cup titles. He left the Loftus Versefeld franchise in September 2024 to move back home, where he was part of the revival of professional cricket in Boland.
Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone paid tribute to Hendricks, saying he was a special player who will be dearly missed.
'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,' he said.
'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,' Rathbone said.
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