The South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC) is deeply saddened and mourns the passing of one of the country’s most popular rugby sons, Cornal Hendricks.
The 37-year-old, who was part of Team SA’s gold medal winning rugby sevens squad at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, died of a reported heart attack.
In joining the sporting fraternity in offering their condolences, the president of SASCOC, Mr Barry Hendricks, said: “It is with utter shock that we heard the news of Cornal’s passing. He was more than a brilliant rugby player who excelled for both Team SA and the Springboks. He was a giant of a human being who will be sorely missed. We’re all shaken at SASCOC and send out our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones during this tough period.”
In 2013 Hendricks was voted South Africa’s Sevens Player of the Year and in 2014 was part of the Team SA squad that went unbeaten in their six matches and won the Commonwealth Games gold medal by beating New Zealand 17-12 in the final in Glasgow.
Hendricks made his Test debut in 2014 and went on to earn 12 caps for the Springboks, scoring five tries. Domestically, he represented Boland, the Cheetahs and Bulls where he earned 115 caps.
