Kings reveal new crew
Former Bok flyer over illness and ready to star for new-look Kings
SPRINGBOK flyer Cornal Hendricks, once ruled out of the game by a serious heart ailment, is set to resurrect his career in the European Pro14 for the Southern Kings.
Hendricks, who played 12 tests for South Africa, is among a list of 22 new recruits named by the Kings for their Pro14 campaign which kicks off against champions Scarlets in Wales on September 2.
A routine SA Rugby test revealed Hendricks’ condition last year, and he was forced into early retirement.
Kings officials said Hendricks had been turning out for his club Roses and had been cleared to play.
The new-look squad is set to start training on Thursday in preparation for a gruelling 21-match season which ends at the end of April.
The man masterminding the Kings’ campaign is head coach Deon Davids, who has put pen to paper on a three-year deal.
Another test player among the signings is South African-born Dries van Schalkwyk, who is joining the Kings from rival Pro14 team Zebre.
Van Schalkwyk played 78 matches for Zebre where he packed down at either No 8 or at flank.
Interestingly, Van Schalkwyk played for the Southern Kings (then the Spears) against the British and Irish Lions at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium during their 2009 tour.
The Italian test star has previously worked with Davids at Boland.
“Dries is a very experienced player. We initially signed him as a lock, but he can also play at No 8 or No 7 flank. Most of the guys we have signed are for two years,” Davids said.
Among the new signings are several players who turned out for the Kings in Super Rugby, including Schalk Ferreira, Berton Klaasen, Giant Mtyanda, Masixole Banda, Ntabeni Dukisa, Pieter-Steyn de Wet and Yaw Penxe.
It is expected that experienced prop Ferreira, who played 35 games for top French team Toulouse, will captain the side.
All eyes will be on Hendricks in the months ahead as he strives to show the form that saw him score five tries for the Springboks.
Hendricks said recently he had overcome his heart ailment and was ready to play rugby again.
And the speedy 29-year-old, could be a lethal weapon for the Kings.
Hendricks has also played Super Rugby for the Cheetahs and is a former star of South Africa’s Sevens team, winning Commonwealth gold in Glasgow in 2014.
In a video posted on his official Twitter page recently, Hendricks said he had not given up on his dream of playing competitive rugby, insisting his heart condition “is a thing of the past”.
“I played at the Hong Kong Tens [in April] and my heart condition is a thing of the past.
“I’m looking forward to a new journey and I’m very excited for this year,” he says in the video.
“Sometimes people will tell you a lot of stuff, but it’s about what you believe in. What you believe in is what’s going to make your adversity easier.
“I also believe it’s never a failure, it’s always a lesson.”
Kings officials said all players were being medically screened this week as part of the contracting process.
“I am with the Kings for the next three years,” Davids said.
“We are starting this process all over again and we have lost almost our entire squad.
“We have identified a large group of players. Some players have come today [Monday] and others will arrive later.”
Kings squad:
Berton Klaasen, Bobby de Wee, CJ Velleman, Cornal Hendricks, Dries van Schalkwyk, Jacques Nel, Jarryd Sage, Khaya Majola, Giant Mtyanda, Lusanda Badiyana, Masixole Banda, Ntabeni Dukisa, Oliver Zono, Pieter-Steyn de Wet, Rowan Gouws, Sbusiso Sithole, Schalk Ferreira, Stephan Greeff, Tango Balekile, Tienie Burger, Victor Sekekete, Yaw Penxe.