Cornal Hendricks ...

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RNZ,

Publish Date

Thu, 15 May 2025, 3:57pm

Cornal Hendricks announced his retirement at age 27 but returned to professional rugby in 2019. Photo / Getty Images

By RNZ Sport

Former Springboks wing Cornal Hendricks has died, aged 37.

Hendricks played 12 tests for his country, including one against the All Blacks in 2014, when he scored his side’s only try in a tense 14-10 loss.

Hendricks made his first appearance in a South Africa jersey earlier that season against a World XV in Cape Town then made his test debut against Wales in Durban.

In the 2016 season, he signed a two-year deal with Western Province and the Stormers. However, he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition and failed to make any appearances for them. After missing that season, a deal with French Top 14 side Toulon also fell through.

Hendricks announced his retirement that year at the age of just 27, however he regained his health and fitness to make a return to professional rugby in 2019.

“I was in a dark place after the doctors told me my career was over. I endured physical pain, but sometimes the emotional pain was so bad I would just curl up in bed and refuse to have contact with the outside world, or even speak to my family,” Hendricks said at the time.

“I fully understand the risks that go with it as I enter into this contract. I accept such risks,” he said after signing with the Bulls, who he made 72 appearances for in Super Rugby and the URC.

Hendricks also won Commonwealth Gold with the Blitz Bokke in 2014.

Hendricks represented the Boland Cavaliers, the Free State Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls at Currie Cup level.

It’s being reported that he died of a massive heart attack.

1. RIP so sad to read. God bless you Cornal...

Just read that he died of a heart attack.

Very sad.

Still remember the Welsh game where he drew the penalty try as he took a high hit while trying to dive over in the corner.

RIP ou man!

Sad news

Brave man, RIP.

So young.

RIP

RIP Cornal.

So sorry to hear that.

RIP.

Lovely player to watch. Played with a lot of passion.

Cornal Hendricks was an incredible 7's player and an all round asset to every team that he represented..

Sout van die aarde tiepe.

Sorry to hear, my condolences to his family….. it’s especially sad because the DOC,s diagnosed him with a serious Heart ailment, but yet he played again??

The coaches should have never allowed him to play again…especially because the doctors thought it was better that he stop after his first diagnosis.

37 is young and he still had a lot of life left….Rugby is just a bloody game, not worth dying for.

You know MPowes I totally agree with you.

It’s a game.

but I also get why he carried on.

it was obviously more than just a game for him. It probably gave him identity.

he said he suffered from so much emotional pain when he was told that he had to stop playing.

it can’t be easy man. Actually heartbreaking.

I thought he had stopped playing? Certainly has not been involved this year

God you’re a moron David

What’s your problem you useless twat - Im asking the question.

You lot are banging on about him playing and that he should not have been playing - I’m asking if he was still playing you fucking idiot

david

stop being a baby.

Google Cornal Hendricks instead of trying to find single men near you.

Fuck off you useless fucking prick

Thanks for the entertainment Saf.

chat tomorrow.

My pleasure dumbfuck

Sad news - my sympathy goes to his family and may he RIP

He apparenarently had heart problems and that is what caused his retiement from rugby.

Jake broke down in the press conference talking about Cornal the funny guy of the team - respect to Jake, it was moving