The news hit harder than Jerry himself. One could scarcely believe that a man so strong, so vital and so immovable had been spirited off the face of the Earth in an instant. We didn’t even get the chance to tell him how much he mattered.
The Maori legend speaks of Maui, the great fisherman who stood in his South Island canoe and hauled up the enormous North Island fish from the depths of the sea.
Jerry Collins might have been Maui: rugged, tough, unyielding, capable of hauling up a continent from the ocean floor.
But the defining story of Jerry Collins’ career is not the withering hit on Colin Charvis, the rattling car-crash on Thinus Delport, or the rhino-like run which scattered French tacklers like nine-pins.
It’s his nondescript little stint with Barnstaple in Devon, England, just weeks after the Rugby World Cup in 2007. There’s a lovely online news story about it – no match footage, just Collins warming up with the plumbers and the labourers.
The thing that hits you about the footage of Collins in Barnstaple RUFC second XV kit is that if you didn’t know who Collins was, you’d have no idea that he was a current All Black.
If someone pointed it out to you, you’d never believe that just two weeks before, Collins was playing in a World Cup for the greatest rugby team in the world, and that a few weeks later, he’d be turning out for the Barbarians against South Africa.
Why? Well, he wasn’t particularly huge, or enormously buffed. He wasn’t giving orders, or talking much at all. He wasn’t pumped up, skipping around like the big pro. He was just trucking along with the odd shy grin on his face, going through the oldest of old-school warmups – the same sort of old-faithful toe-touches-and-run-across-pop-passes warmup that you could find at just about any amateur club in the world around 11:30am on a Saturday.
The fact that Collins was warming up for Barnstaple at all was a miracle. He’d been spotted by Kevin Squire, then Barnstaple RUFC Director of Rugby, in a cafe in Devon while on holiday. Squire, who admitted that he’d just been “looking for a selfie” with Collins, struck up a conversation with the great man, and eventually invited him down to Barnstaple for a visit.
Two or three days later, what do you know? Up rocks Jerry Collins and hangs out at the club. Runs a bit of a clinic for the juniors. Has some drinks at the bar. Strikes up a friendship with the Kiwis playing for the club. And ends up asking Squires if he can play a game.
Of course, Squires knows that Collins can’t play for their first grade, he’s not even registered in the UK. But maybe he could play for the seconds or thirds? No worries, says Jerry. That’d be sweet.
And so the Barnstaple second XV run out that Saturday with pound-for-pound the hardest hitting 6 in the history of world rugby, against the weekend warriors from Newton Abbot rugby club, who were no doubt experiencing a little bit of looseness around the bladder at kickoff.
They needn’t have worried. Collins didn’t go full bore, maybe scored a try. Just ran and tackled and rucked and laughed with the rest of the team, enjoying being one of the boys, playing for the joy of the game.
It’s a beautiful story, brought about by the generosity of a humble man. A generous spirit by all reports who, when he is talked about in the wake of his tragic death, is remembered as a man who never forgot his roots.
Quiet chats with fans in hotel foyers. Undercover matches with his mates at Porirua when not on duty with the All Blacks. Coaching clinics with kids. A rare bridge between the professional and amateur rugby worlds – a man who knew what the true spirit of rugby was all about.
Of course, it goes without saying that Jerry Collins will be long remembered by those who saw him play. Who could ever forget the granite shoulder, the surprising footwork, the shock of blonde-tipped hair and the wonderful gap-toothed grin.
But his special kind of humility and appreciation for the rugby grassroots deserves to endure. And what better way to remember him than to build a lasting bridge between the pro and amateur games. All it would take is for the professional unions to make one simple change to their contracting.
Every year, every player in the national team goes into a ballot. Every grassroots club in the country can enter the draw. And on different occasions during the year, each player goes and has a week with their club, lives with a clubman, goes down to junior training, trains with the seniors, and then lines up in a lower grade game on the weekend.
The cost? Nothing, perhaps a few travel expenses. The risk? Minimal, and certainly no more than the risk of a week of pro training.
But what an incredible upside. Imagine unifying the two sides of rugby, the haves and the have-nots, the pros and the laymen, the entertainment and the audience… One week at a time.
Just think of clubs taking bus trips to watch ‘their Wallaby’ in action at Test matches. Wallabies fondly remembering their week with the Gunning Galahs, and waving to their mates from the Cobar Camels in the crowd post-game. A celebration of rugby at its inclusive best.
And all in the memory of a great All Black, and an even greater rugby man.
So take the lead ARU. To help you along, we’ve already got a name for it – Jerry Collins Week.
As for you Jerry, well mate, our stunned silence says it all. We just can’t believe you’re gone. It’s inconceivable.
But we’ll never forget you, and we’ll never forget what you taught us – that the strength of rugby is the strength of the rugby family brought together.
Haere rā Jerry Collins.
Ralph
Guest
I have a newspaper photo on my pin board next to my desk. In it Jerry and my nephew are arm in arm when my nephew was playing for Heretaunga College. They both have huge grins on their faces. A very giving guy he was.
eric
Guest
Good article Andrew. I played at Barnstaple, on a tour. Great place. Old blokes playing Euchre in the clubrooms during training. However if you were in 2nd XV or lower, your matches were consigned to the back blocks, played at the same time as the 1sts, due to the short days and muddy fields. My memory is that when Hart? or Henry? first selected Collins and Sooialo it was a bit controversial, there were more polished players around, they were just a pair of human torpedoes, but Collins grew into a great footballer. Steven Moore's words, "gone too soon" summed it up.
sheek
Roar Guru
Thanks Andrew, Wonderful tribute to a wonderful guy.
Eddie
Guest
Thank you Jerry for reminding us that it's just a game, and there to be enjoyed-no matter if you're turning out for the best in the world or a second 15 in Devon. Will look forward to tipping one 'For Jerry' in the WC pool and Final ( if the Blacks make it ).
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
What a legend! It's stories like this that really define a person! On a side note - fun Jerry Collins fact: He had the biggest biceps in the All Blacks squad - 52cm!
Pete Nathan
Guest
Great story, and befitting of a great man and player, and as already mentioned, he never forgot his roots and where it all began.It is obvious he played the game for the love of it, and the camaraderie, its just his incredible talents took him too higher honours.
Gilbert
Guest
Humbling story. Thanks Jerry. Your sudden passing has left a shuddering impact amongst world rugby community, just like those hard hitting stop tackles you're renowned for. Rest in peace with your loved one. Forever in our hearts.
Ra
Guest
A great tribute Andrew. Well done, a story typical of many of our great Pasifika athletes in the game. Tough and uncompromising on the paddock, yet quiet and humble homely mummy's boys off it. Moe Mai korua Jerry me tou hoa haere I to koruatahi moenga roa (be at rest Jerry and your lovely wife on your long sleeping journey together)
Ra
Guest
Willie O, Kefu. A couple of good hitters from the Aussie game. Or maybe more renowned for their powerful ball running prowess
Digby
Roar Guru
Hi Pita, Apologies I did not get to this yesterday. I think its a lovely idea for a trophy between ABs/Samoa but how often would it played? With all due respect it is likely to be a one sided affair as well. I would of thought that Michael Jones or Peter Fats would be more fitting with both of their involvements with the respective unions. In terms of the Hurricanes I am unsure who it should be against specifically, perhaps a ranfurly shield type cocept played for within the NZ conference? Borrowing a little on Andrews idea I think a JC medal or award, whether at a Wellington or National level recognising Professional players involvement at grass roots level would be pertinent given Jerrys support and interest at the lower levels of the game. Wouldnt neccesarily need to be rugby either, perhaps a Halberg category given Jerrys wide interest in many sports? I also like the idea of Aisle 6 being dedicated to his memory as Jerry suggests below.
mania
Guest
manuia ma tele alofa atu Jerry. o le malosi male alofa o lo loto a lea mea e manutua matou . paia oe ma lou toolua. e matou tatalo mo lo afafine bless you jerry and lots of love to you its the strength and the love of your soul that we remember. bless you and your wife. we pray for your daughter
mania
Guest
RIP Jerry. Jerry grew up in our neighbourhood. he was a lot younger than me but even as a little kid he was irrespressible and you knew that he was going to be either a kiwi or AB. at the time i thought he was going to be the greatest league player since markGraham. jerry came to our gridiron trainings and wanted to play but his super contract forbade it. he was a real funny down to earth dude. the juniors flocked to him and he never made any of them like a pests. he spoke and joked with all of them and you'd think he'd known them all his life. i remember in 2007 when jerry was told told to take time off from rugby. he wasnt allowed to play for his club either. all rugby was off the agenda. he had an operation on his shoulder that had been put off for years. couple of days after the op i spotted him playing indoor soccor with a sling on. you just couldnt stop the guy. rip jerry. pTown boy thru n thru. i tell my boys about u jerry when i speak of hard uncomprimising players that give ti their all.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Wow.
Hertryk
Guest
Taken from the book "Rugby Wit" by Richard Benson - "I felt like I had run into a brick s*** house" - Thinus Delport South African Rugby player , on being tackled by All Black Jerry Collins Just about says it all and also some humour from the great man taken from the same book - " I have never had major knee surgery on any other part of my body" - Jerry Collins New Zealand Rugby player RIP Jerry you will be forever missed A great story hopefully someone in the boardrooms will SANZAR will make sure a fitting tribute will be arranged. The Jerry Collins week would be awesome and bring the prima donnas of our game down a peg or two.
Wixsy
Guest
Rip capa kid.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
There are just some generous people throughout the rugby community and the world is better for it ...
Phil O'Donovan
Guest
A wonderfull and most fitting article.
Pita
Guest
DC - your views on a trophy named after the great man to be played between the canes & rival or ab's/Manu Samoa?
bennalong
Guest
Ths is a great insight into the man Partyhat, thanks! A hard man indeed, but a true rugby man Hei maumaharatanga ki te tino hoa. Vale Jerry Collins. Rest in Peace. Age will not weary you.
Richard Islip
Roar Rookie
THE BEST PURE RUGBY TRIBUTE WAS FROM SEAN FITZPATRICK......." JERRY COLLINS WAS AN OPPONENT YOU DID NOT WANT TO PLAY AGAINST."