New Zealand
New Zealand Rugby World Cup winners celebrate success with late Jerry Collins
ESPN Staff
November 5, 2015

New Zealand's victorious Rugby World Cup stars paid tribute to the late Jerry Collins on Thursday -- visiting his grave with the Webb Ellis Cup.

The former All Blacks flanker, who would have been 35 on Wednesday, died tragically in June when he, his wife and young daughter were involved in a car accident in France.

Collins was denied the chance of seeing his former team-mates defend the trophy but Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Jerome Kaino, Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam's gesture proves he was never far from the squad's thoughts.

Collins won 48 caps for New Zealand and became a hugely popular figure in the sport during spells in his homeland, France, Wales and Japan -- even turning out for English amateur side Barnstaple shortly after the 2007 World Cup.

Having spent a month in intensive care following the crash, his daughter Ayla is currently recovering in Canada with family on her mother's side. 

Awesome to bring the cup to the USO JC #allblackeverything #6 @jeromekaino @dancarter_ @maanonu #sb-dub #RIP

A photo posted by Liam Messam (@liammessam) on

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