Ghalieb Hendricks, Former Western Province Rugby Captain, Dies After Short Illness
- Ghalieb Hendricks, a former Western Province captain and SARU representative from Paarl, passed away after a short illness
- SA Rugby president Mark Alexander and Vineyards RFC both paid tribute to Hendricks, describing him as deeply respected within rugby and his community
- Family members revealed Hendricks represented South Africa during the apartheid era, when many Black players were denied equal opportunities in the sport
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Ghalieb Hendricks, a fullback who captained Western Province and represented South Africa through SARU during the 1980s, has died following a short illness. His death was confirmed on 23 September 2026.
Hendricks, who hailed from Paarl, played for Western Province, Boland, and Vineyards RFC over the course of his career. He competed during an era when apartheid barred many of South Africa's most gifted rugby players from receiving Springbok recognition. Following the sport's unification, Hendricks was among those subsequently honoured with Springbok colours.
SA Rugby President pays tribute
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander described Hendricks as "an absolute giant and a highly respected figure within the rugby community, especially in the Cape Malay rugby fraternity."
Alexander also extended condolences to Hendricks' family, including his wife Najmoenisa and their four children: Gadeeja, Hasheem, Baheejah, and Firdous.
Vineyards RFC mourns a club icon
Vineyards Rugby Club, where Hendricks made a lasting impression, called him "Vineyards RFC's greatest." The club's statement described him as more than a player.
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A family member, Nugh Tyer, shared a personal account of Hendricks' impact both on and off the rugby field. Tyer described him as an outstanding fullback who represented and captained Western Province before playing for South Africa through SARU during the 1980s. He noted that apartheid denied some of the country's finest rugby players the opportunity to receive official Springbok recognition despite their talent.
Tyer added that Hendricks' reputation among his fellow players remained strong decades after his retirement, with accomplished rugby players continuing to regard Ghalieb as one of the finest players they had played alongside or against.
He said South African rugby had lost a member of a remarkable generation whose contribution to the sport deserved to be remembered.
Source: Briefly News
