Jerry Collins Killed in Car Accident

Very Sad news......... Former All Black Jerry Collins was killed in a car accident earlier today. HERE

French media are reporting that former All Black Jerry Collins has died in a car crash in the South of France.

Respected French newspaper Le Figaro said Collins and his partner were killed in a road accident at 4.30am local time on the A9 in the French region of Herault.

Local media have reported that Collins and his partner died instantly, while their three-month old baby was airlifted to a hospital in Montpellier.

The vehicle is believed to have rammed into a bus, in which two people were slightly injured. The circumstances around the accident remain unclear.

Collins was signed in Narbonne in January.

God damn it.

X 2. That's horrible

Just read that. Terrible. I always really liked watching him play. The definition of hard.

Really tragic.... He certainly was a hard and tough player....

Awful news, my thoughts go out to his family.

Was a hard bastard.

It certainly puts things into perspective. Rip Jerry. True hard man on the field, gentleman off the field.

Bloody awful tragedy - too young! God bless Jerry!

Lived large, ABs, Baa Baas, Canes, Toulon, Ospreys, Yamaha, and ..Barnstaple. Awesome competitor, only 34 - kia kaha. So happy the Canes sent him off properly. God Bless that baby.

RIP big guy, thanks for the enjoyment you gave me over the years.

So sad to hear. I hope their baby recovers

RIP Jerry my heartfelt thoughts to all family and friends and all our Rugby fraternity.

Taken from the book "Rugby Wit" by Richard Benson -

"It felt like I had run into a brick s*** house" by Thinus Delport South African rugby player, on being tackled by All Black, Jerry Collins

Just about sums the great man...

Taken from the same book a little humour in this time of awful tragedy....

"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body" - Jerry Collins, New Zealand Rugby Player

BLESS!! He will be greatly missed!
My prayers are with his daughter!

Jerry Collins tribute: Over a thousand march in French tribute to All Black great

AFP
June 08, 2015 10:39AM


LATE All Black great Jerry Collins’ tragic death in a car crash on Friday was marked by a silent march by around 1500 people in the southern French city of Narbonne, whose rugby team he played rugby for.

Collins, 34 and his partner Alana Madill died instantly on Friday in the crash in southern France and their baby daughter Ayla is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

The marchers — which included Collins’s cousin and fellow All Black now Toulon star Chris Masoe among their number as well as some of his Narbonne teammates — walked in silence behind a giant photograph of the 48-times capped flanker along with his girlfriend and daughter.

Masoe was asked to say a few words and with his voice choked with emotion was only able to say “Thank you to everybody.

Many of his fellow mourners preferred to keep their thoughts to themselves rather than speak to the assembled media.

Lots of those present were dressed in the second tier club’s colours of orange and black with some laying bouquets of flowers at the base of the photograph which was placed outside the club stadium.

Known as the ‘human wrecking ball’ Collins played the game with a smile on his face. Numerous tributes have been paid to him since the accident that saw a bus crash into his stationary car near Beziers.

On Friday his former teammates at three-time European champions Toulon wore black armbands during the 33-16 French championship semi-final loss to Stade Francais — which was preceded by a minute’s silence — while their backrow forward Masoe dyed his hair peroxide blond like Collins did for a “pint of Guinness” look.

Masoe himself also wore a message on an improvised wristband reading; “RIP JC — Love you brother.”

On Saturday at Perpignan a match that was due to be a testimonial match for Samoan Henry Tuilagi, who is retiring after eight seasons with the historic French club, was turned into a tribute to the late flanker with all the ticket receipts going to Collins’s family.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/je...-1227387867553

Latest...Ayla's condition still "uncertain" .... still fighting ..Fund for Ayla has reached target of NZ$25,000 great news from a terrible tragedy ..shows how the Rugby family can rally together in a time of need..Arrangements are being made to return Jerry to NZ...