Many people have shared emotional tributes to the late Cornal Hendricks, who passed away at the age of 37 after suffering a heart attack. South African Rugby confirmed the sad news on Thursday.
Cheslin Kolbe expressed his grief on social media, calling Hendricks “a special human being inside and out.” Other former teammates also shared heartfelt messages. Beast Mtawarira wrote, “This really hurts. Gone far too soon.”
Hendricks played his first Test match for the South African national team in June 2014 and made an immediate impact by scoring a try against Wales. He went on to play 12 Test matches and scored five tries for the Springboks. One of his most memorable moments came later in 2014, when he scored a stunning try against New Zealand’s All Blacks in Wellington by cutting through the defense and diving under the posts.
Hendricks is remembered not just for his skills on the field, but also for the kind and genuine person he was off it.
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Handré Pollard gave the pass to Hendricks that led to the try. On Thursday, he shared a photo of them together with the message, “RIP my brother.”
Hendricks had to stop playing rugby in 2015 because of health issues, but he made a strong comeback in 2019 by joining the Bulls. He played very well until he left the team at the end of last year. Jake White, his coach in Pretoria, said rugby had “lost one of the good ones.”
“When we got the chance to bring him back to the field, he grabbed it and made the most of it,” White said.
“We all saw how hard he worked, how he motivated his teammates, and how his story gave hope to many in South Africa,” he added.
“It was an honour to coach him. He was a great example for young players, full of life and energy. Rugby truly lost someone special today.”
Edgar Rathbone, the Bulls’ chief executive, said Cornal was a special player who achieved great things against all odds.
“We are very sad and still in shock after losing Cornal. He was more than just a good player – he was part of our Loftus family and someone we all loved,” Rathbone said.
“He always brought great energy into any room. He was a great teammate, a loyal friend over many years, and someone who inspired others in the team.”
“He was a brother, a son, and a role model to both young and old. His smile could light up a room, and most of all, we knew him as a proud father to his children.”
“We send our deepest sympathy to his wife, children, and everyone affected by this sudden and tragic loss. He was a special person who inspired us all. May he rest in peace.”
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander also shared kind words about former Blitzboks star Cornal Hendricks.
“We are very sad about Cornal Hendricks’ sudden death. He was a great player who proudly played for South Africa in both sevens and 15s rugby,” said Alexander.
“Cornal truly loved rugby. He worked very hard and always had a smile on his face. He showed respect to everyone and brought joy to his teammates and those around him, both on and off the field.
“We will always remember his passion, hard work, and love for the game. We send our deepest sympathy to his wife Stephaney, their children, and all his loved ones during this tough time.”
