Today we join the rest of the rugby world in mourning the sudden passing of All Black great Jerry Collins. The 35-year-old back rower tragically lost his life in the early hours of this morning, along with his partner Alana, in a road accident in France.
“Jerry Collins is an undisputed legend of the game for Wellington, the Hurricanes and the All Blacks. He inspired all of those around him with his passion and love for the game throughout a highly decorated career for club and country, ” writes SANZAR CEO Greg Peters in the wake of the tragedy.
“A complex character who was sometimes misunderstood, Jerry was a wonderful person who will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
“Thoughts and prayers go out to both he and Alana’s family and especially to their young daughter who is bravely fighting for life.
“Rest in peace JC, as the rugby world mourns and remembers one of its greats.”
Our thoughts are with Jerry and Alana’s friends and family at this time, and especially their 4-month daughter who is in a critical condition in hospital in France.
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Wow what a shock! Condolences to his family and friends. Truly sad day indeed
Awful news! RIP.
Hectic – RIP!!!
Sad news indeed 🙁
RIP.
RIP, Thoughts go out to families involved.
Such horrible news and so sudden and hard for family and friends to absorb. My thoughts and prayers go out to them in this difficult time.
One of my all-time favourites.
Such heart, what a loss.
RIP Jerry.
All Black and World Rugby legend. Very sad news! Especially thinking of their 3 month old little girl fighting for her life in hospital. 🙁
Just one of many stories from the legend that was Jerry Collins:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/2324673/All-Black-gives-Barnstaple-second-XV-the-edge.html
RIP Jerry COllins. Truly a fantastic player and competitor.
Our prayers are with their young child. Such a tragedy. 😥
very sad . RIP
@VinChainSaw (Comment 10) : Tears
Legend of the game!
Rest in peace. 😥
Moe Mai Jerry
O wow. What sad news. RIP to both of them and hope their daughter pulls through. What a SAD SAD bit of news. 😥 😥
Why was his A.B career that short, played his last game at 25 thats almost 10 years ago.
Mattfield ,Schalk and Bakkies who were his contemporaries are still playing international rugby.
He was one of the real characters of rugby. RIP – Jerry
Very sad news indeed!!!!!!!!!!
R.I.P. great man!!!!!!!!!
Our prayers are with their daughter and family!!!!!
Not sure but I’m pretty sure Jerry once played a club game Friday night before playing in a test match for the All Blacks the next day (Saturday afternoon)?
@The hound (Comment 17) : He was always a stand in for captain cheat. Mccaw, but probably a better player.
Gutted…
RIP…
@The hound (Comment 17) :
If memory serves he took a sabattical to play in Europe after a world cup and knocked up a girl and decided to hang around in the UK.
Its not the same girl he eventually married.
Hazy memory though – i could be wrong.