“Rugby sport has lost one of the good ones”
Heart attack: Ex-international dies at the age of only 37
05/16/2025 – 10:46 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Ex-rugby professional Cornal Hendricks once played twelve international matches for the South African national team. Now he’s dead.
Great grief in the rugby world: Former South African international Cornal Hendricks died on Wednesday at the age of only 37. This was confirmed by South Africa Rugby. Accordingly, he suffered a heart attack.
Hendricks initially ended his professional career in rugby ten years ago. At that time, a heart disease had been diagnosed. In 2019, however, he returned to sport. The reason: he had obtained a second medical opinion. Then he played for the Rugby Union Team Blue Bulls from Pretoria.
“Many people were shocked and sad when his career ended early in 2015,” said Jack White, Rugby director of the Bulls. “When we had the opportunity to bring him back to the pitch, he accepted them with open arms and took his second chance in a professional rugby in a remarkable way.” As a result, they experienced how Hendrick’s “left nothing to inspire his teammates and the South African community with its history of hope and courage. Rugby sport has lost one of the good ones,” continued White.
Hendricks played a total of 233 first division games in his career. He represented his home country in the seven rugby at the 2013 World Cup. A year later he won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Mark Alexander, President of Sa Rugby, said that it was “sad about the sudden death of Cornal Hendricks”. He described him as a “remarkable athlete” who represented South Africa in rugby. “Cornal was one of those players who loved the sport and worked extremely hard, but always had a smile on his lips and encountered everyone with respect,” said Alexander. He had inspired his teammates and all other people around him with his energy and joie de vivre.
Hendricks leaves his wife and children.