Jerry Collins attacks the Australia defence © Getty Images

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News: Jerry Collins dies in car crash

Players/Officials: Jerry Collins

All Blacks great Jerry Collins is being remembered as a hardened Test forward who just loved playing rugby, after he and partner Alana Madill died tragically in a car crash in southern France.

Collins and Madill are believed to have died instantly when, according to French newspaper Le Figaro, the car they were travelling in crashed into a bus in the French region of Herault; their baby daughter has been airlifted to a hospital in Montpellier in a critical condition.

Sky Sports commentator and former All Blacks No.9 Justin Marshall described the accident as a "travesty", saying his former Test team-mate would be terribly missed.

"I was there when Jerry made his All Black debut and it's a travesty for the rugby world," Marshall told Sky Sport. "He's one of us; he's an All Black and he will be missed, terribly missed…it's a sad loss."

Collins, All Black No.1002, was renowned for his brutal defence and strong ball running, playing in a powerful back-row trio that also featured Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo. He played 48 Tests for the All Blacks and 85 games for the Hurricanes across Super 12, and the expanded Super 14.

"The news has shocked us all and our thoughts are with Jerry and Alana's families at this terribly sad time. We offer our deepest condolences to them and will support them as they come to terms with this devastating news," New Zealand Rugby General Manager Rugby Neil Sorensen said.

Former All Blacks and Hurricanes team-mate Piri Weepu was one of the first to express his grief, the scrum-half taking to Twitter to express his sorrow; but also convey the pride in which he felt when playing alongside a close friend.

Struggling to think that its happened.. dont want to believe it!!

— Piri Weepu (@piriweepu) June 5, 2015

Had the privilege and honour of bleeding with him on the weekends on the field. Words cant express how sad I am brother. RIP big brother JC!

— Piri Weepu (@piriweepu) June 5, 2015

Tributes are flowing in from around the world with Springboks winger Bryan Habana, Wales captain Sam Warburton and Wallabies utility Kurtley Beale among those to send their condolences via Twitter.

Terrible news to wake up to about Jerry Collins and his wife's passing keeping his family and friends in my thoughts and prayers

— Bryan Habana (@BryanHabana) June 5, 2015

What a huge loss. Inspiration to many young players growing up including myself. RIP Jerry Collins and his wife Alana. Best wishes baby Ayla

— Sam Warburton (@samwarburton_) June 5, 2015

Very sad news. Notably one of the toughest opponents I had the pleasure playing against. RIP Jerry Collins #AllBlackLegend

— Kurtley Beale (@kurtley_beale) June 5, 2015

Ex-Wales winger Shane Williams also paid tribute to his former Ospreys team-mate, telling BBC Sport: "It's horrible news.

"I've been speaking to Lee Byrne, James Hook and a couple of the other ex-Ospreys, and we still can't believe it. It's terrible news for the family and just fingers crossed at the moment that Ayla can pull through.

"Jerry was the kind of person who would always make the effort to come and meet you. All the people who played against him and with him have always kept in touch because that was the personality he had. He was always very friendly."

Sean Holley, who coached Collins at Ospreys, added: "He was a legend of the game as an All Black [and] he had some enormous performances for the Ospreys ... In the big games, he fronted up.

"He was a true character and was much liked by the boys and off the field he would give up his time, particularly for the younger fraternity, and I would imagine there are a lot of them this morning who are very, very sad.

"Fans loved him because he was such an iconic character. He would go and share a beer with them after games. He loved life, he loved people. It's a sad, sad loss."

An Ospreys statement read: "He was his own man, a true individual, and a giant of the world game, Jerry made a huge impact during his short time in an Ospreys jersey and will be sadly missed by everybody in rugby, his family and friends."

The Welsh Rugby Union also released a statement, saying: "Jerry will be remembered as one of the most ferocious players on the field in the professional era, but also as one of the nicest off it."

The New Zealand Super Rugby derby between the Hurricanes and Highlanders observed a minute's silence ahead of the opening whistle in Napier where many of Collins' former team-mates, including All Blacks Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu, were playing.

Born in Apia in Samoa, Collins moved to New Zealand as a child and was educated at St Patricks College in Wellington. He showed great promise as a player throughout his junior years, going on to make the New Zealand Secondary Schools side two years running. He was then selected in the New Zealand Under 19 side in 1999, the back-rower named player of the tournament as the Junior All Blacks took the title.

Collins debuted for Wellington in the then NPC (ITM Cup) in 1999 before taking his Hurricanes bow in 2001. He would make his Test debut, too, later that year, scoring five tries across a 48-Test career that saw him become one of the game's most feared forwards.

Departing New Zealand at the end of 2009, Collins headed for France where he joined Toulon before stints in Wales and Japan. He had returned to France at the start of 2015 to play with Narbonne.

While his thumping hits in defence brought fans to their feet, Collins will also be remembered for one of the more quirkier moments in Test and All Blacks history. Ahead of a Bledisloe Cup clash in Christchurch in 2006, the back-rower dropped a knee and relieved himself. What he didn't know was the television cameras had captured it.

He will be sorely missed by the global rugby community.