Former All Black Jerry Collins dies in car crash in south of France
Former New Zealand rugby international Jerry Collins has died in a car accident in in southern France along with his wife. Collins, 34, was capped 48 times by the All Blacks.
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Collins and his wife, Alana Madill, were killed when a coach hit their car, which made an unexplained stop on a motorway near Béziers in southern France on Friday.
Their two-month-old daughter, Ayla, survived but was taken to hospital in a serious condition.
The driver of the bus, which was carrying Portuguese tourists, was slightly injured.
The All Blacks official website describes the flanker as one of New Zealand's most feared enforcers.
"Collins was one of the toughest and most uncompromising forwards to ever play for the All Blacks and his ferocious tackling and intimidating presence made him feared by every opponent," it said.
Officials announced a minute's silence would be held before his former team the Wellington Hurricanes' match against the Otago Highlanders in Napier later Friday.
Toulon, the French club he played for in 2008-09, was to honour him with a minute's silence before its match against Paris Stade Français at Bordeaux.
Jerry Collins, a life in dates:
4 November 1980: Born in Apia, Samoa
1997-1999: Plays for 1st XV side at St. Patrick's in Wellington in New Zealand Secondary Schools;
1999: Debut at Wellington in the NPC;
2001-2008: Plays for Wellington Hurricanes;
2001: Debuts with All Blacks, with whom he plays 48 test matches;
2006: Captains All Blacks against Argentina;
2007: Captains All Blacks in Rugby World Cup against Portugal and Romania;
2008: Retires from international rugby after New Zealand’s surprise World Cup defeat against France, plays for French side Toulon;
2009-2011: Plays for Welsh team the Ospreys;
2011-2013: Plays for Japanese team Yamaha Jubilo;
2015: Joins French team Narbonne as Medical Joker;
5 June 2015: Dies in car crash in southern France along with wife Alana Madill.
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