FILE - The Bulls’ Cornal Hendricks goes on the run during a United Rugby Championship match against the Sharks in 2022. Hendricks is set to join Boland after his contract with the Bulls expired. FILE - The Bulls’ Cornal Hendricks goes on the run during a United Rugby Championship match against the Sharks in 2022. Hendricks is set to join Boland after his contract with the Bulls expired. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP
Former Springboks wing Cornal Hendricks is set to finish his career “at home” where it all began after his contract with the Bulls expired at the end of September.
IOL Sport understands that Hendricks will join Boland after a trophy-laden stint with the Bulls following a miraculous return to rugby with the Pretoria side in 2019.
Hendricks was diagnosed with a rare heart condition in 2015, with doctors advising him to quit the game while in the prime of his rugby career at the age of 27 years old.
Hendricks still wanted to keep playing and sought a second opinion. But possible moves to the Stormers and Kings fell through as SA Rugby prevented the wing-come-centre from signing for any team because of his condition.
However, after four years in the wilderness, Hendricks was given a lifeline by the Bulls. A couple of years later, he won the Covid-19 influenced Super Rugby Unlocked title and the Currie Cup with the Bulls, winning the player of the tournament for the latter competition in the 2021-22 season.
In 2022, Hendricks was close to Springbok selection after playing a starring role for Jake White’s team at inside centre. However, he was left out of the squad after then-Bok coach Jacques Nienaber confirmed that the SA Rugby medical team had not given him the “green light” for selection.
Hendricks’ journey will now come full circle after starting his rugby career in Wellington where he grew up.
After representing Boland at age-group level, Hendricks made his professional debut for the senior team in 2008 and spent four years in the black and gold. He then left for the Cheetahs in 2012 where he showed his worth in Super Rugby.
Hendricks made his Springboks debut in 2014, playing 12 Tests and scoring five tries. He scored a memorable try against the All Blacks in 2014, when he ran a perfect line after a well executed lineout move.
Boland have won the Currie Cup First Division over the past two years are expected to be included in the Premier Division next season following big investment in the union.
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