Former Springboks winger Cornal Hendricks dies at age 37 after heart attack

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Cornal Hendricks, a South African rugby player who made 12 appearances for the Springboks and was a star for his country at sevens, has died. He was 37.

Hendricks died on Wednesday after a heart attack, SA Rugby said on Thursday. He was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2015 and retired from professional rugby on medical advice, before making a comeback in 2019.

Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby, said he was “deeply saddened” by the sudden death of Hendricks, who he described as a “remarkable athlete who represented his country in sevens and fifteen-man rugby with distinction.”

The Bulls, where he played the final years of his career, remembered Hendricks' “zeal for life” and for him being a “gentleman on and off the field.”

Hendricks played 12 tests as a winger for the Boks in 2014 and '15 — scoring five tries — and represented South Africa sevens from 2011-14, winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2014. He played at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013, the same year he was voted as South Africa's player of the year in the format.

In a 17-year club career, during which he also played at center, Hendricks represented the Cheetahs and the Bulls in Super Rugby and the United Rugby Championship.

“Cornal was one of those players who loved the game and he worked extremely hard, but he always did so with a smile on his face, treating all people with respect," Alexander said. “His energy and love of life, on and off the field, lifted his teammates and those around him.”

Gayton McKenzie, South Africa's sports minister, posted a photo of Hendricks on X with the words: “Rest in perfect peace Cornal Hendricks, you have made your mark by inspiring many."

The Bulls, where he played from 2019-24, allowed Hendricks to make “a remarkable use of his second lease in professional rugby,” its director of rugby, Jake White, said.

"We all witnessed him leave no stone unturned as he inspired his teammates and the South African community through his story of hope and courage,” White said.

“It was a privilege and honor to have been his coach, a fantastic role model for the next generation and his appetite for life was infectious. Rugby has lost one of the good ones today.”

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

FILE -South Africa's Cornal Hendricks, left, scores a try against Argentina as he is tackled by Argentina's Joaquin Tuculet during their Rugby Championship match in Salta, Argentina, Aug. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano), File)

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Isaiah Evans scored 21 points and had a critical 3-pointer with 1:15 left to help No. 6 Duke beat No. 24 SMU 82-75 on Saturday.

Evans slipped to the left side for the 3-pointer off a feed from freshman star Cam Boozer to make it 76-70, a repeat of the play that sent Duke past Florida when he hit a late 3 here in December.

Patrick Ngongba II tied his career high in scoring with 17 points for Duke (15-1, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), while Boozer had 18 points — including muscling up his own interior basket to give Duke a 73-68 lead shortly before Evans' big shot.

Duke shot 49% and won its 25th straight home game.

Jaden Toombs had 23 points on 10-for-12 shooting to lead the Mustangs (12-4, 1-2), who started the week by entering the AP Top 25 poll for the first time since the end of the 2016-17 season before losing at Clemson on Wednesday.

The Mustangs had to play this one without leading scorer Boopie Moller, a 20.6-point scorer who was a game-time decision because of illness.

But SMU scored the game's first 11 points and gave Duke fits all day, shooting 56.6% and thrice getting within one possession in the final 4 1/2 minutes. The Mustangs' biggest problem was turnovers; they had 21 that led to 21 points for the Blue Devils.

At halftime, Duke marked the 25th anniversary of the program's 2001 NCAA championship, with former NBA players Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy and Jay Williams joining retired Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski at midcourt during the presentation. Boozer's twin sons, Cam and Cayden, both play for Duke.

SMU: The Mustangs host Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

Duke: The Blue Devils make their first cross-country ACC trip when they visit California on Wednesday.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Duke's Dame Sarr (7) is fouled by SMU's Jaden Toombs, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)