Cornal Hendricks

South African rugby union player (1988–2025)

Rugby player

Cornal Hendricks

Hendricks playing in 2021

Date of birth| (1988-04-18)18 April 1988
Place of birth| Paarl, South Africa
Date of death| 14 May 2025(2025-05-14) (aged 37)
Height| 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight| 95 kg (209 lb; 14 st 13 lb)
School| Bergrivier High School, Wellington
Rugby union career
| Position(s)|  Wing/Inside centre

|

Current team|  Bulls / Blue Bulls
Youth career
2007–2008|  Boland Cavaliers
Senior career
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Points)
2008–2012|  Boland Cavaliers|  68|  (135)
2014–2015|  Cheetahs|  27|  (55)
2014–2015|  Free State Cheetahs|  1|  (0)
2019–2024|  Bulls|  72|  (75)
2019|  Blue Bulls XV|  1|  (5)
2019–2024|  Blue Bulls|  42|  (90)

Correct as of 23 July 2022

International career
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Points)
2012–2014|  South Africa Sevens|  |
2012|  South African Barbarians (South)|  1|  (0)
2014–2015|  South Africa|  12|  (25)
2014|  Springbok XV|  1|  (0)

Correct as of 25 July 2015

Medal record

Men's rugby sevens
Representing  South Africa
World Games
| 2013 Cali | Team competition
Commonwealth Games
| 2014 Glasgow | Team competition

Cornal Hendricks (18 April 1988 – 14 May 2025)[1] was a South African rugby union player for the Bulls in Super Rugby, the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge.[2] His regular position was wing. He died on 14 May 2025 of a suspected heart attack.[1]

## Personal life and death

[edit]

Hendricks was born and raised in Paarl, Wellington, Western Cape, South Africa, in a poor area called Hillcrest.[3] He came from a rugby-playing family. His father, brother, and grandfather all played, and his mother was a significant influence.[4] He attended Bergrivier Hoërskool, a lesser-known school, and was not selected for prestigious youth tournaments like Craven Week, yet fought his way into Boland's under-21 and senior teams.[5]

He died of a heart attack on 14 May 2025.[6] He was married to Stephaney, and they had two children.[7] Hendricks was deeply religious, crediting his faith for helping him through his health struggles and emotional challenges.[8]

## Career

[edit]

### Boland Cavaliers

[edit]

Hendricks represented local team Boland Cavaliers through various underage competitions and graduated to the first team.

Hendricks made his first team debut for Boland against the Free State Cheetahs in the 2008 Currie Cup Premier Division season.[9] He remained a first team regular for them over the next five seasons.

### Cheetahs / Free State Cheetahs

[edit]

Hendricks signed a contract with the Cheetahs to join them for the 2014 season,[10] having previously agreed a deal with them for 2013,[11] but failed to play for them in 2013 due to his South Africa Sevens commitments.

Hendricks was included in the Cheetahs squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season[12] and made his debut – also scoring a try – in a 21–20 defeat to the Lions in Bloemfontein.[13][14]

### Stormers / Western Province

[edit]

Hendricks returned to the Western Cape for the 2016 season, signing a two-year deal with Western Province and the Stormers.[15] However, he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition and failed to make any appearances for them.[16]

### Toulon

[edit]

In December 2016, French Top 14 side Toulon announced the signing of Hendricks until the end of the 2016–17 season.[17] However, a few weeks after announcing this deal, Toulon stated that he would not join the team after all.[18]

### Representative rugby

[edit]

Hendricks was also a member of the South Africa Sevens team during the 2011–12 and 2012–13 IRB Sevens World Series.[19] In 2013, he was included in the squad for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.[20]

In May 2014, Hendricks was one of eight uncapped players that were called up to a Springbok training camp prior to the 2014 mid-year rugby union tests.[21]

Hendricks made his debut on 14 June 2014 for the Springboks against Wales in Durban.

## Honours

[edit]

* Currie Cup Player of the Year (2020–21)
* Pro14 Rainbow Cup runner-up 2021
* Currie Cup winner 2020–21, 2021
* United Rugby Championship runner-up 2021–22

## Springbok statistics

[edit]

### Test Match Record

[edit]

Against  | Pld  | W  | D  | L  | Tri  | Con  | Pen  | DG  | Pts  | %Won

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Argentina |

100

Australia |

Ireland |

New Zealand |

Scotland |

100

Wales |

66.67

Total | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 63.64

Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Con = Conversions, Pen = Penalties, DG = Drop Goals, Pts = Points Scored

### International Tries

[edit]

Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result

|
|
|
|
|
|

1 |  Wales | Durban, South Africa | Kings Park | Mid-year rugby test series | 14 June 2014 | Won 38-16
2 |  Wales | Nelspruit, South Africa | Mbombela Stadium | Mid-year rugby test series | 21 June 2014 | Won 31-30
3 |  Argentina | Salta, Argentina | Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena | 2014 Rugby Championship | 23 August 2014 | Won 33-31
4 |  Australia | Perth, Australia | Patersons Stadium | 2014 Rugby Championship | 6 September 2014 | Lost 23-24
5 |  New Zealand | Wellington, New Zealand | Westpac Stadium | 2014 Rugby Championship | 13 September 2014 | Lost 10-14

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Venter, Koos (15 May 2025). "Shock and disbelief in rugby community after sudden death of Cornal Hendricks". Pretoria Rekord. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
2. ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Cornal Hendricks". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
3. ^ Village, Youth (16 October 2014). "10 Things You Didn't Know About Cornal Hendricks". Youth Village. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
4. ^ Kupiso, Lunga (6 April 2022). "Cornal Hendricks Is All Heart For The Game He Loves - Vodacom Bulls". Retrieved 15 May 2025.
5. ^ "CORNAL HENDRICKS: The fighter with the biggest heart and a bigger smile, dies at 37".
6. ^ "South African rugby mourns death of Cornal Hendricks at 37". France 24. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
7. ^ Ridley, Nathan (15 May 2025). "Rugby star dies aged just 37 as heartbroken team-mates pay tribute". The Mirror. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
8. ^ Rugby, Tiger (23 May 2020). "Cornal Hendricks Story". Tiger Rugby. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
9. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Boland Kavaliers 10–15 Vodacom FS Cheetahs". South African Rugby Union. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
10. ^ "Blitsbok Hendricks word Cheetah". Media24 (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 23 October 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
11. ^ "Al die Cheetah-aanwinste". suparugby.com. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
12. ^ "Toyota Cheetahs kondig groep aan vir 2014 Vodacom SupeRugby seisoen" (Press release) (in Afrikaans). Cheetahs. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
13. ^ "Match Centre: Cheetahs v Lions". SANZAR. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
14. ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Cheetahs 20–21 Lions". South African Rugby Union. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
15. ^ "Bok Cornal also signs for WP". SuperSport. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
16. ^ "Bok Hendricks confident of overcoming heart condition". EyeWitness News. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
17. ^ "Cornal Hendricks vient renforcer les lignes arrières" (Press release) (in French). Toulon Rugby. 8 December 2016. Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
18. ^ "Cornal Hendricks ne portera pas les couleurs toulonnaises" (Press release) (in French). Toulon Rugby. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
19. ^ "Two new caps in SA squad for Gold Coast Sevens". South African Rugby Union. 4 October 2012. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
20. ^ "Kyle Brown back to command Springbok Sevens for Mission Moscow". South African Rugby Union. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
21. ^ "Springbok training squad for Durban camp named". South African Rugby Union. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Cornal Hendricks at the World Rugby Men's Sevens Series (archived)

* v
* t
* e

Bulls - current squad

Forwards|

* Cyle Brink
* Nizaam Carr
* Marcell Coetzee
* Johan Grobbelaar
* Mpilo Gumede
* Cameron Hanekom
* Robert Hunt
* Jannes Kirsten
* Francois Klopper
* Tiaan Lange
* Sebastian Lombard
* Elrigh Louw
* Wilco Louw
* Reinhardt Ludwig
* Phumzile Maqondwana
* Simphiwe Matanzima
* Khutha Mchunu
* Mihlali Mosi
* Tielman Nieuwoudt
* Ruan Nortjé
* Merwe Olivier
* Deon Slabbert
* Dylan Smith
* Mornay Smith
* Gerhard Steenekamp
* WJ Steenkamp
* Janko Swanepoel
* Muller Uys
* Akker van der Merwe
* JF van Heerden
* Jacques van Rooyen
* Marco van Staden
* Joe van Zyl
* Ruan Vermaak
* Jan-Hendrik Wessels

Backs|

* Kurt-Lee Arendse
* Zak Burger
* Sebastian de Klerk
* Stedman Gans
* Johan Goosen
* Cornal Hendricks
* Henry Immelman
* Stravino Jacobs
* Marco Jansen van Vuren
* Keagan Johannes
* David Kriel
* Willie le Roux
* Lionel Mapoe
* Kabelo Mokoena
* Canan Moodie
* Sibongile Novuka
* Embrose Papier
* Sergeal Petersen
* Chris Smit
* Cornel Smit
* Chris Smith
* Bernard van der Linde
* Jaco van der Walt
* Harold Vorster
* Devon Williams

Coach|

* Jake White

* v
* t
* e

Blue Bulls - current squad

Forwards|

* JP Alberts
* Cyle Brink
* Nizaam Carr
* Marcell Coetzee
* Jacques du Plessis
* Johan Grobbelaar
* Cameron Hanekom
* Robert Hunt
* Francois Klopper
* Tiaan Lange
* Sebastian Lombard
* Elrigh Louw
* Reinhardt Ludwig
* Phumzile Maqondwana
* Simphiwe Matanzima
* Mihlali Mosi
* Ruan Nortjé
* Merwe Olivier
* Dylan Smith
* Mornay Smith
* Gerhard Steenekamp
* WJ Steenkamp
* Janko Swanepoel
* Muller Uys
* Juan van der Westhuizen
* Jacques van Rooyen
* Marco van Staden
* Joe van Zyl
* Ruan Vermaak
* Jan-Hendrik Wessels

Backs|

* Kurt-Lee Arendse
* Zak Burger
* Stedman Gans
* Johan Goosen
* Eugene Hare
* Cornal Hendricks
* Marco Jansen van Vuren
* Keagan Johannes
* Adriaan Joubert
* Franco Knoetze
* David Kriel
* Lionel Mapoe
* Kabelo Mokoena
* Canan Moodie
* Juan Mostert
* Quewin Nortje
* Sibongile Novuka
* Embrose Papier
* Wandisile Simelane
* Chris Smit
* Chris Smith
* Bernard van der Linde
* Harold Vorster

Coach|

* Jake White

Squads

* v
* t
* e

South Africa Sevens – 2014 Commonwealth Games — Gold medal

Squad|

* Cecil Afrika
* Kyle Brown
* Chris Dry
* Branco du Preez
* Justin Geduld
* Cornal Hendricks
* Frankie Horne
* Werner Kok
* Mark Richards
* Seabelo Senatla
* Kwagga Smith
* Warren Whiteley

Coach|

* Neil Powell

* v
* t
* e

South Africa Sevens – 2013 World Games — Champions

Squad|

* Bernado Botha
* Kyle Brown
* Stephan Dippenaar
* Cornal Hendricks
* Steven Hunt
* Ruwellyn Isbell
* Reuben Johannes
* Werner Kok
* Mark Richards
* Seabelo Senatla
* WJ Strydom
* Jamba Ulengo

Coach|

* Neil Powell / Vuyo Zangqa

* v
* t
* e

South Africa Sevens – 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens

Squad|

* Cecil Afrika
* Rayno Benjamin
* Kyle Brown
* Stephan Dippenaar
* Chris Dry
* Branco du Preez
* Cornal Hendricks
* Cheslin Kolbe
* Sampie Mastriet
* Seabelo Senatla
* S'bura Sithole
* Philip Snyman

Coach|

* Paul Treu

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