Cornal Hendricks: The Rugby Warrior Who Refused to Stay Down
News doesn’t get much harder for South African rugby fans. Cornal Hendricks, famous for his electric pace, big smile, and fierce determination, has died at the age of 37 after a suspected heart attack. This isn’t just the loss of a player — it’s the loss of a story. One about fighting the odds and never giving in, even when your own body stands in the way.
Born in the rugby-mad town of Paarl, Hendricks knew the game intimately. He wasn’t the type who burst onto the scene overnight. He worked his way up, making his name first as a rapid try-scorer for the Blitz Bokke, South Africa’s sevens team. The big moment came fast: at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, he and his teammates stood at the top of the podium, gold medals gleaming, after beating the mighty All Blacks in the final. That same year, he pulled on the green and gold Springbok jersey for the first time and racked up 12 caps by 2015. His try against the All Blacks in a tense 14–10 thriller is still replayed whenever people talk about forgotten Springbok classics.
What made Hendricks stand out wasn’t just stats or scoresheets. It was what happened in 2016 — the moment everything stopped. A medical check uncovered a heart problem. It was serious enough that doctors told him to walk away from rugby, maybe permanently. Most would have faded into the background, but not Cornal. He battled the diagnosis, endured setbacks and doubts, but never switched off that hope that he’d be back.
The comeback wasn’t staged or forced. In 2019, after three years out, Bulls coach Jake White put his faith in Hendricks. The winger suited up, looking sharper than ever. Between Super Rugby and the United Rugby Championship, he played 72 times for the Bulls, not just making up numbers but helping drive the Cornal Hendricks-led resurgence that saw the Bulls reach multiple finals and grab the Currie Cup in both 2020–21 and 2021.
Hendricks was named Currie Cup Player of the Year for his 2020–21 heroics, underlining his status as more than just a comeback story. Fans were inspired by his never-say-die attitude and teammates often pointed to his leadership by example. The Bulls’ locker room is still filled with stories about his relentless drive in training — and his huge, infectious laugh.
The Human Side: Family, Loyalty, and Sporting Brotherhoods
For all his achievements, those closest to Hendricks talk about him less as a superstar and more as a loving husband and dad. He often mentioned how his wife Stephanie and young daughter Calsey gave him the strength to fight through brutal rehab sessions and uncertain times. Their support meant the world to him, and he never stopped thanking them in interviews, even on the nights of big wins.
Bulls director of rugby Jake White didn’t mince words, calling Hendricks a role model and a “player who lifts everyone around him.” Teammates echoed that, saying his return after the heart condition gave everyone belief that impossible comebacks are real. On social media, tributes poured in from players and fans—many called him the ultimate symbol of fighting spirit, never once letting his health battles define his career or overshadow his beaming positivity.
Even in his last seasons, Hendricks didn’t slow down. He helped the Bulls reach finals in competitions like the Pro14 Rainbow Cup and the URC. Sure, they didn’t lift the trophy every time, but Hendricks brought that underdog grit South Africans love, rallying the line in hopeless scenarios. His ability to “just be there in the clutch moments” left a huge impression on younger players trying to make the cut.
The rugby world salutes Cornal Hendricks not just for his dazzling tries and medals, but for showing that being knocked back is never the same as being knocked out. His story is pure South African heart—and he’ll be remembered long after the final whistle.
