Table of Contents
- Cornal Hendricks retired from playing rugby last year
- He played for Bulls from 2019 to 2024
- He was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2015, which made him retire for four years before he was cleared to play again
South Africa is mourning the sudden demise of celebrated rugby player Cornal Hendricks.
Hendricks passed away on Wednesday evening after suffering a heart attack. He was 37 years old.
Doctors diagnosed the Springboks winger with a heart condition 10 years ago, in 2015. He was then 27 years old and was playing for Bulls.
Diagnosis of his heart condition pulled him off his career prematurely. He always thought about how much more he would have done if he hadn’t retired early.
A second doctor’s opinion saw him return to action with the Bulls for a few seasons before he finally retired from professional rugby.
Who is Cornal Hendricks?
The 37-year-old was born on April 18, 1988, in Hillcrest, located in the Western Cape. Hillcrest was a poor neighbourhood, but he had a way out through rugby.
His grandfather, brother, mother and father all played rugby, which influenced him to also play from a young age.
Cornal Hendricks missed out on prestigious rugby tournaments while he was young, but it only fueled his desire to rise to the top. He played for Bergrivier High School in Wellington when he was a student here.
Former South African rugby player Cornal Hendricks. Photo/cornal hendricks
Teams Cornal Hendricks Played for
Boland Cavaliers gave him his first opportunity to represent them in the Under-21 tournament for the 2007/2008 season.
His performance earned him a place in Boland’s first team, where he performed exceptionally well for the next five seasons as a professional player.
Free State Cheetahs
Cheetahs signed him for the 2014/2015 season, where he played in the Super Rugby Season.
Western Province/Stormers
Cornal Hendricks played for Western Province when he was diagnosed with a heart condition, forcing him to retire.
Bulls
He played for the Bulls from 2019 to 2024 after doctors gave him the green light to continue playing rugby.
International Teams
He played for South Africa Sevens between 2012 and 2014 and Springbok XV for the 2014 season.
| Team | Year |
| Boland Cavaliers | 2007/2008 (youth career) |
| Boland Cavaliers | 2008 – 2012 (professional career) |
| Free State Cheetahs | 2014 – 2015 |
| Western Province | 2016 |
| Bulls | 2019 – 2024 |
| International Career | |
| South Africa Sevens | 2012 – 2014 |
| South Africa | 2014 – 2015 |
| Springbok XV | 2014 |
South African Rugby Fraternity Mourn Cornal Hendricks
Jake White, Bulls director, led South Africa’s rugby fraternity in eulogising the late Cornal Hendricks. White remembered Hendricks as a player who did everything he could to live his rugby dream.
He recalled that it was a shocker for South Africa when Hendricks announced that he was retiring due to a heart condition.
However, when doctors gave him a second opinion, Hendricks was more than Happy to return to the Bulls and make history.
His memories of the deceased are of a player who inspired his teammates to do better.
“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,” White said.
“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.”
The late South African rugby player Cornal Hendricks. Photo/Sky Sports
The late South African rugby player Cornal Hendricks playing for Springboks in 2014. Photo/Planet Rugby
Mark Alexander, the rugby president in South Africa remembered Cornal Hendricks as a passionate and optimistic player.
What stood out about him is that he always put a smile on everything he did. Even on days when things turned out differently for his team or he felt not strong enough.
Alexander was always amazed by Hendricks’ love for rugby even after retiring.
“His energy and love of life, on and off the field, lifted his teammates and those around him,” said Alexander.
“Cornal was one of those players who loved the game and he worked extremely hard, but he always did so with a smile on his face, treating all people with respect.”
Was Cornal Hendricks Married?
Cornal Hendricks was a dutiful husband to Stephaney, and a loving father to their two kids. He credited his grounded family love to his strong Christian values that helped him pull through when he struggled with his health for the last decade.
