Pretoria – Former Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks could be handed a career saving lifeline by the Bulls.
The 28-year-old Hendricks who also featured prominently for the national Sevens side prior to becoming a Springbok in 2014 started training with the Bulls on Thursday and also underwent medical tests to ascertain if he is fit enough to return back to the game.
Hendricks’ career was cruelly cut short at the beginning of last year when he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition after having signed a two year deal with Western Province and the Stormers.
Even though Hendricks missed out on selection for the Springboks Rugby World Cup squad two years ago after a storming start to his international career a year before, the Paarl-born wing was considered a major asset with his speed and ability to shred opposition defences to pieces with his skills acquired while playing Sevens.
At the end of last year Hendricks made an attempt at returning to playing when he pronounced that specialists had cleared him to play but his bid to secure a contract with French Top 14 giants Toulon failed.
Bulls coach Nollis Marais revealed that he had been chasing after Hendricks signature while he was still at the Cheetahs and believes that he would be a perfect fit to his side especially after the departure of Springbok wing Bjorn Basson last year.
Basson has recently signed a deal with the Stormers while Hendricks is likely to play second fiddle to Springbok wing Jamba Ulengo and Travis Ismaiel who have established themselves in Marais’ Super Rugby team.
“I have been after Cornal a long time ago before he decided to go to the Stormers. We’ll come to a decision about him as soon as he is cleared medically. I think he is an excellent rugby player and the kind of player we need, he is a match winner,” said Marais on Thursday.
Even if Hendricks is cleared to play by the Bulls medical staff, there is the issue on who will pay for his medical insurance which will in all certainty be an astronomical figure because of his medical history.
However, the Bulls are willing to hand Hendricks a lifeline that will not only resurrect a career cut short at its peak but it will also add value and experience to an already formidable Bulls squad ahead of their attempt to win a fourth Super Rugby title.
"We understand the potential health issues and risks and have asked a number of leading specialist in their field to give us their assessments. Cornal is a world class player and we will be delighted to have him in our squad, but player welfare has always been a non-negotiable priority in the Bulls set-up and will always be seen more important than short term results. We are confident that Cornal will be cleared and will join us," said Blue Bulls Company High Performance Manager Xander Janse van Rensburg.