Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

The incredible kindness of the late Jerry Collins summed up in one Welsh anecdote

Jerry Collins was a true enforcer and one of the greatest blindside flankers of all time. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Jerry Collins’ eccentric and kind nature has been remembered by a former teammate, five years after the All Blacks legend’s tragic death. Collins died alongside his wife Alana Madill in a car crash in France in June 2015 after coming out of retirement to play for second-tier club side Narbonne.

ADVERTISEMENT

The former back row was beloved by his teammates – and his impact is still being felt in Wales where he spent two years of his career. In an interview with WalesOnline, Collins’ former Ospreys teammate Paul James recalled a story that summed up the Kiwi rugby star’s generosity.

“Jerry Collins was an unbelievable player and loose as a goose as well,” James said. “He was unpredictable to the point where no-one knew what he was going to do. There are loads of stories about him. 

Video Spacer

RugbyPass brings you the latest episode of Isolation Nation, the Sky NZ TV rugby programme

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      RugbyPass brings you the latest episode of Isolation Nation, the Sky NZ TV rugby programme

      “One of them concerned the way he used to rock up on Saturdays or Sundays at random places. He’d have a look at a map of Wales and say to the taxi driver: ‘Take me there’. On this particular day, he turned up at some place in the valleys and asked the barman if could he watch TV.

      “The reply came that the TV was in the corner, but it was a tiny one. JC then supposedly went across to the local Tesco, bought a 50-inch one and took it back to the pub, saying to the barman: ‘Plug that one in, mate’. He then watched what he wanted to watch and left the TV there. He was a very generous guy.”

      James said Collins, who represented the All Blacks 48 times between 2001 and 2007, was one of the best he ever played with and praised his character both on and off the field. “JC was one of the best trainers and players I played alongside. He had his own way of doing things.

      “He would work hard all week, then he’d play and on the weekend he’d enjoy himself and let loose. On Monday mornings, you’d see him on the field, training on his own, perhaps doing a bit of shadowboxing. Once he decided to train, he’d train hard. On the weekends, he’d let his hair down and have a bit of fun.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

       

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Quarter Final Replay

      Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

      New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

      South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

      Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

      The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

      The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

      Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      S
      Solenn Bonnet 8 days ago
      Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

      My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

      CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

      EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      WhatsApp.. +15617263697

      website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      Telegram.. +15617263697

      0 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING Ex-All Black skipper sent home while former Chiefs flyhalf stars in JRLO quarter-final Former Chiefs flyhalf stars in League One quarter-final
      Search