RIP Jerry Collins

[waiopehu oldboy]

It's one thing to hear that one of the old-time greats that you may or may not have seen play, and if so in grainy black & white, has passed away, quite another when it's someone who only seems to have stopped playing a year or so back...... tragic doesn't come close.

 

[Beefcake]

Such sad news RIP JC #machine

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

"Kua hinga he totara i te wao nui a Tane"

Loose translation: a mighty tree has fallen in the forest, totara being one of the largest & longest-living of NZ-native trees & Tane being God of the forest.

 

[boyo]

He, and his wife, was killed in a car crash in France.

 

[Marcelo]

Really bad news. A true rugby legend

RIP Jerry

 

[Bullrush]

I've only ever changed my avatar here once before - very sad today

 

[ChargerWA]

Always loved Jerry. Hated his haircut and what he did to the Wallabies, but it was always evident winning through at the end, he was a good bloke.

 

[Shelts89]

Absolutely terrible news, and just hope his daughter pulls through now. A great player, person and servant of the game really. I was a youth player when he visited and played for Barnstaple 2s back after the 2007 world cup, and as such got to meet him a few times. Came across as a true gent. RIP

 

[USARugger]

 

[Dismal Pillock]

 

[boyo]

Isn't that Masoe?

 

[USARugger]

Isn't that Masoe?

Yes, it was his tribute to Jerry - Toulon played in the Top 14 semi-final today.

Collins was the best man at Masoe's wedding.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

More tributes during & after Toulon's SF:

^^^^^^ that's Chris Masoe's arm.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

The latest news states their 3 month old daughter Ayla is showing signs of improvement. She is still in a serious condition but this is some positivity in what is a terrible tragedy.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...llins-baby-improving-after-fatal-french-crash

I'm sure everyone's hoping if not praying for her recovery.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Facebook campaigns underway to get Collins' club home ground Porirua Stadium changed to Jerry Collins Memorial Stadium & Westpac Stadium's Aisle 6 named after him (Aisle 13 is officially the Tana Umaga aisle):

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-porirua-stadium-after-former-all-blacks-star

 

[Ruggo]

RIP Jerry Collins. To young to be taken from the Earth.

 

[Tahtrajic]

I'm not into posting on blogs. But I just had to say Jerry Collins was all that's good about what Rugby can be.

 

[Slim 293]

Former All Blacks perform haka at roadside memorial.........

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jun/11/all-blacks-tribute-jerry-collins-haka-scene-crash

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

The mighty Peter Fitz wrote a nice piece about Collins back in 2007 & has re-published it in his column. It's defying my iPads copy function but here's the link:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/spo...yanks-how-to-get-it-done-20150612-ghmddl.html

Collins' body is due home tomorrow & the funeral will be next week at the 3,000-seat Te Rauparaha Events Centre & I'm told they're putting additional seating in for the day so expecting ~4,000 to attend.

EDIT: it's an appropriate venue, Te Rauparaha being the narrator & possibly the author of the Ka Mate haka......................