**Bulls Head Coach Jake White Breaks Down Ahead of Dragon’s Clash Following Passing of Cornal Hendricks**
Emotions ran high at the Bulls’ training camp this week, as the team prepared to face Wales’ Dragons in Pretoria under the heavy shadow of former player Cornal Hendricks’s sudden death. Jake White, the Bulls’ head coach, was visibly overcome during a press conference on Friday, sharing his heartbreak with media representatives after a week that has left the South African rugby community mourning.
Hendricks, who won 12 caps for the Springboks, tragically died from a heart attack at just 37 years old on Wednesday evening. His passing comes a decade after he was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition, which initially ended his professional playing career. In a remarkable story of resilience, Hendricks made a celebrated return to rugby following a new medical evaluation and went on to serve the Bulls for five seasons before his final retirement last year.
The news has sent shockwaves through South African rugby circles, as tributes flood in for a figure widely admired both on and off the pitch. Speaking to reporters ahead of Saturday’s United Rugby Championship fixture, White was moved to tears when describing the impact of Hendricks’s death on his players and staff.
White shared that he had recently spoken with Hendricks, expressing hopes that he might join the Bulls in a management capacity. The conversation, recorded only days before the tragedy, now underlines the profound sense of loss felt within the club. “It made me realise so much when my players told me they didn’t feel up to training,” said White through tears. “Sometimes you forget how deeply moments like this can affect a group, until something brings reality sharply into focus.”
In a clear indication of the emotional toll, the Bulls squad requested to postpone training, prompting White to reflect on the fragile nature of sporting careers. He noted that such events serve as a stark reminder to players of realities outside their sporting bubble, highlighting that while rugby provides a unique and privileged platform, it does not shield anyone from life’s deeper hardships.
Springboks full-back Willie le Roux has been particularly affected by the loss. Having shared club and country duties with Hendricks at Boland, Free State, and the Bulls, le Roux’s connections with the late centre run deep. “People might assume a newer member like Willie wouldn’t take it so hard, but that’s far from the truth,” White added, commending the camaraderie and lasting bonds forged in rugby.
Preparations are in place to honour Hendricks’s memory at Saturday’s fixture. The Bulls will fly club flags at half-mast at Loftus Versfeld stadium, with a minute’s silence scheduled prior to kick-off. Additionally, an emotional tribute is planned for the 14th minute, signifying Hendricks’s shirt number, during which applause is expected to ring out from both sets of supporters.
The upcoming match’s emotional resonance was acknowledged by Filo Tiatia, head coach of the Dragons. He paid his own respects, noting that as an opponent he witnessed firsthand Hendricks’s rare blend of pace, power, and technical skill, describing him as an “inspirational player both on and off the field.” Tiatia extended sincere condolences to Hendricks’s family and the wider Bulls community.
Dragons centre Aneurin Owen also spoke on behalf of his teammates, conveying their collective sadness and respect for a player many in the Welsh camp admired. “As a fellow centre, Cornal was someone I looked up to,” Owen shared, reflecting on Hendricks’s ability to create magical moments with ball in hand.
Saturday’s match promises to carry more weight than points alone can provide, with both teams united in remembrance. While the Bulls and Dragons prepare for battle on the pitch, the sport will pause together to honour one of its own, marking a weekend when the rugby world comes together to support those most in need of its strength and solidarity.