Justin Collins- Tasmanian!

Here's an interesting bit of trivia, Justin Collins, the Auckland Blues Flanker, was born in Hobart Tasmania 09/04/74.
While he may now live in the land of rugby, perhaps that fact has dudded him of an international career.
At 194cm and 101kg Collins could well have been in the mix for Wallaby selection over the last few years however ,with 73+ Super Rugby starts is yet to gain a cap for the All Blacks and, with their incredible depth in the back row he is unlikely to make his debut at 32 years of age.
Perhaps this career would make Collins the most successful Tasmanian born rugby player?
Interested to hear of others to have come from the Apple Isle over the years.

You do a lot of research up there Burgs....

Just stumbled across that one looking at Flankers mate ;)
Half Back Steve Devine is also an expat playing for the Blues, having been born to Boggabri in NSW however, having already recorded 10 AB Test Caps he's not much use to us now!
From his Blues profile:

"As one of only three players in this year's Blues squad with more than 50 appearances for the team, Devine's experience will be a crucial component of the team's success in 2006.

An All Black in 2002-03, Devine has had to endure a number of injuries in throughout his career, yet has still been able to create an impressive playing record.

After one game for NSW in 1998, Devine turned down an offer to join the Brumbies to be a part of Auckland and Blues' squads. He has been a key player for both teams ever since.

His nuggetty approach, bullet-pass and experience around the ruck are key factors in getting the Blues pack going forward and setting his backs alight."

Steve Devine went to NZ looking for a chance at rep footy having already played Sydney 1st grade though didn't he? A bit like our own Jim Hilgendorf and Brock James.
Had Collins done similar or did he leave the "West Island of NZ" as a nipper?

Apart from the birthplace reference I didn't see anything else about Collins, Shasta, so I think that he could well have left a fair bit younger.
With Devine, as in his profile, he was offered a role at the Brumbies to bench for Gregan, which I imagine left the door open for Henjak to take the role a couple of years later.

Collins has been playing for Auckland (Province as well as the S14) for yonks.

I would hazard a guess to say he was an early immigrant whereas Devine definately went over for rugby.

Devine came (and this is not word for word but the general gist anyway) to play in the most competative rugby competition in the world. Probably just said that to keep the new fans and boss happy.

Caused a bit of a kerfluffle when he came over and he had to earn his shot through good performances with the Auckland NPC team. Auckland was, if I remember correctly, a bit short on talented half backs when he came and they went looking for him. Canterbury had been the major supplier of All Black half backs in that period.

How was it viewed when he got his call up for All Blacks Redbull? I don't remember the media from then.
Had he gained acceptance by then or still seen as intruding and keeping out a "genuine" player?

I think he was always a "dirt tracker" or "dirty dirty". One of the mid week players on tour.

In front of him was Marshall.

In saying that, there is no disrespect in being an All Blacks mid-weeker. They would take most international teams to the cleaners and our man John was one of them.