New Zealand
Jerry Collins dies in car crash
ESPN Staff
June 5, 2015

Jerry Collins has died in a car crash in France.

New Zealand Embassy staff in Paris have confirmed the former Hurricanes and All Blacks back-rower and his partner, Alana Madill, died instantly in the incident in the south of France. The couple's three-month-old baby, Ayla, is in a critical condition after being airlifted to a hospital in Montpellier.

Respected French newspaper Le Figaro reported that Collins' car crashed into a bus in Herault department.

Collins played eight seasons with the Hurricanes and 48 Tests for the All Blacks, including three as captain. He had been playing for French second-division club Narbonne since January, having signed as medical cover for former Wallabies rival Rocky Elsom.

He had previously been out of rugby for two years, after finishing his deal with Japanese club Yamaha. He had been working in security in Canada.

Collins was arrested and jailed in Hamamatsu in 2013, after being found carrying two knives at a city department store "without a valid reason". He was released from jail and returned to new Zealand after paying a NZ$1900 fine.

Collins told TV3's Campbell Live program at the time that a "misunderstanding" with a "gang" had escalated suddenly and dramatically to the point where threats were reportedly made against his life, and so he had armed himself as a form of protection.

SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters hailed Collins "an undisputed legend of the game for Wellington, the Hurricanes and the All Blacks".

"He inspired all of those around him with his passion and love for the game throughout a highly decorated career for club and country," Peters said. "A complex character who was sometimes misunderstood, Jerry was a wonderful person who will be sadly missed by all who knew him."

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