Cheetahs wing Hendriks to play for Stormers

Springboks and Cheetahs winger Cornal Hendricks has agreed to leave Bloemfontein and play Super Rugby for the Stormers in Cape Town.

The Springbok winger will join the Stormers and Western Province Rugby after the Rugby World Cup on what is believed to be a two year deal.

Hendricks originally made his name at international Sevens level and will return to his roots as a Stormers player – having played his early provincial rugby for Boland, before becoming a full-time Sevens player in 2012 and then joining the Free State Cheetahs in 2014.

Hendricks, 27, made his Test debut in June of last year, whilst the 2013 Springbok Sevens Player of the Year was also a key member of the Commonwealth Games Gold medal-winning SA Sevens team in July 2014.

In all, he has played 11 Tests (as well as an additional match against the World XV) for the Springboks, scoring five tries – including a try on debut against Wales and a memorable solo score against the All Blacks in their hard-fought Rugby Championship tussle in Wellington in September 2014.

“Cornal is tall and fast, which is what you need out wide at Super Rugby level, and he’s also a proven performer at international level,” said WP Director of Rugby Gert Smal who added that at 1,89 metres and 90 kilograms, he is an ideal wing signing for the Stormers

“He is a local player who is coming home to his roots, so it’s an exciting signing for us on many levels. We look forward to seeing him in Stormers colours come 2016.”