Rugby
Ex-South Africa rugby star dies aged 37 after being forced to retire early
Former South African rugby star Cornal Hendricks has died aged 37 years old following a heart attack. The Springbok back made 12 caps for his country between 2014 and 2015, and also represented the South African rugby sevens team, winning Commonwealth gold in 2014. He had suffered from a heart condition throughout his playing career, with Hendricks forced to prematurely hang up his boots in 2016 aged just 27.
It came after the condition had scuppered moves to South African side Stormers and French outfit Toulon. Following a second medical opinion, Hendricks returned to elite-level action in 2019, signing for the Bulls, whom he represented until 2024. During his second stint as a professional, Hendricks won two Currie Cups in his homeland before returning to Boland last year in an attempt to qualify his local side for the competition.
