Portugal Colonial - South African rugby mourns death of Cornal Hendricks at 37

The 37-year-old, who scored five tries in 12 Test appearances, died on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Cornal Hendricks, a remarkable athlete who represented his country in sevens and 15-man rugby with distinction," said Alexander in a statement.

"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.

"His energy and love of life, both on and off the field, lifted his teammates and those around him.

"His contributions to the sport and his unwavering dedication will always be remembered. May his legacy continue to inspire future generations," added Alexander.

Apart from his Springbok appearances in 2014 and 2015, Hendricks represented the national sevens team, the Blitzbokke, winning a 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medal in Glasgow.

Hendricks began and ended his provincial career with second-tier Boland and also played for two top-flight sides, the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs and the Bulls in Pretoria.

He featured in Super Rugby and the United Rugby Championship, and helped the Bulls win back-to-back titles in the Currie Cup, the premier domestic competition.

Born in western Cape town Paarl, Hendricks played 233 first-class matches in a career spanning 17 years.

A.Aguiar--PC