The Vodacom Bulls will pay homage to Cornal Hendricks in a unique way for the rest of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship season, with the number 14 jersey not being used for any of the playoff games.
Hendricks, who died last week after a suspected heart attack at his home in Wellington, was a big part of the Bulls’ resurgence under coach Jake White and his team-mates have banded together to pay tribute to him in this way.
The team will not use the number 14 jersey - the number Hendricks played in - for the remainder of the season, with the player who will run out on the right wing playing in the number 23 or 24, which is still to be determined.
The number 14 is a big part of Hendricks’ legacy, as he played in the number in his 12 tests for the Springboks and formed his Foundation in 2014. The number also features heavily in the Bulls tributes to him.
Earlier this week coach Jake White pointed out how big the number was for Hendricks.
“I mean, I think Cornel's son was born on the 14th of December. I think he got his first test on the 14th of July. I think he died on the 14th of the 5th. And I think the final, if I'm right, is on the 14th of the 6th, and he was here for six years.”
Hendricks was also with his partner and wife Stephaney for 14 years, with them professing their love for each other on 14 April and Hendricks committing his life to Christianity on 14 July.
White said earlier in the week that Hendricks’ passing may be the “why” the Bulls need to overcome their history of losing in two finals in the competition.
“I said it many times that sometimes you need a why and a reason. You look at what happened to Munster when Axel Foley died, you know, how that old club just galvanised and took another step up.
I've got no doubt having lost in finals, we've done it twice now, and having lost a guy like Cornall is something that gives us a reality check, you know, because it is what it is. Sports guys, I mean, they know each other.
“We miss him clapping hands or doing the rituals he used to do and I'm hoping, that's the sort of added value that we can have. We're going to do something for him in the next three weeks on our jerseys and that sort of thing, and the message is very simple. It's not just a symbolic thing, it must be an action thing as well.
“So hopefully it'll be a reason for us to play better and a reason for us to make sure if we get to these knockout games we play as well as we can.”
The Bulls face Edinburgh in their quarterfinal at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.