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'I fully understand the risks' - Springbok Hendricks finds new club despite heart condition

Cornal Hendricks during Rugby Championship match against All Blacks in 2014. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

The Blue Bulls Company announced that Cornal Hendricks will join the Bulls for the upcoming 2019 Super Rugby season.

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The 30-year-old wing played 12 test matches for South Africa, the last in 2015 before a heart condition sidelined the player who was due to take up a contract with the Stormers at the time.

After thorough examinations and testing, Hendricks has now been cleared to play again by a leading heart specialist, while the player himself declared that he is fully aware of his diagnoses and possible effects and/or risks associated with his condition and he is happy to give it another go.

“As with any rugby player that plays this beautiful game, I fully understand the risks that go with it as I enter into this contract with the BBCo. I accept such risks,” said Hendricks.

Hendricks said he is keen to get back on the field, contributing and playing for the Bulls.

“I have played in a number of invitational tournaments around the world in the last two years, so I am keen to become part of a team structure and squad again, especially one known for their good culture and structure. The Bulls are definitely a team in an upward curve, so it is pretty exciting joining them.”

The BBC’s High Performance Manager, Xander Janse van Rensburg, said they are happy to welcome Hendricks into the squad.

“We evaluated him and are happy to give him the opportunity to play professional rugby at the highest level again. After all, he is a great player, a Springbok, and a truly great team man as well, who will contribute and fit into the Bulls family with ease. We are keen to see him perform again.”

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Credit: Rugby365

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Nickers 37 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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