Mates there for Collins after death
Two of Jerry Collins’ closest Hurricanes team-mates have formally identified his body on behalf of his family.
Collins’ manager and family spokesman, Tim Castle, confirmed Neemia Tialata and Chris Masoe visited the former All Black’s body on Saturday. Until then, no-one had seen him.
‘‘[They] visited the baby and after that they went to see Jerry and be with him.’’
Castle said Collins’ 3-month-old daughter, Ayla, remained in a very serious condition in Lapeyronie Hospital in Montpellier.
‘‘There has been no significant changes to the medical condition of little Ayla. She is still very, very seriously ill.’’
Collins’ family were continuing to work with the French author- ities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to bring him home, Castle said.
Back in New Zealand, support for formal memorial sites for Collins is growing as a rugby mad nation mourns for him and his partner who were killed in a car accident in France, and the baby daughter they left behind.
Collins started his rugby career at the grassroots in Porirua and the city, now in ‘‘shock’’ at the death of one of its greatest exports, is already rallying to name a landmark after him.
The idea of renaming Porirua Park – formerly known as Trust Porirua Stadium – to ‘‘Jerry Collins Memorial’’ stadium has received early support from Porirua mayor Nick Leggett, who said it was ‘‘absolutely’’ being looked at, pending consultation with the Collins family.
A Facebook page calling for the memorial had almost 4000 likes on Sunday morning.
Another Facebook page, calling for aisle six at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium to be named after Collins, had drawn nearly 10,000 likes in just over 24 hours.
The men behind the page – Wellington friends Robbie McLachlan, Daniel Jefferies and Calum Rawlinson – did not expect it to take off like it did.
‘‘We can’t believe it. We moved into our new house yesterday and we just sat there watching the likes go through the roof on the page,’’ McLachlan said.
‘‘It is great to see so many people backing it.’’
McLachlan felt the idea was an opportunity for future generations, who will play at the stadium, to remember Collins’ legacy. ‘‘We felt Jerry should be remembered in the same sort of style as Tana Umaga . . . [and] we thought what a fitting tribute to Jerry it would be. ‘‘I think it’s a sign of respect. ‘‘He played 130 games for Wellington teams and nearly 50 for the All Blacks.
‘‘I think people would agree he was the best No 6.’’
Westpac Stadium chief executive Shane Harmon said the concept was ‘‘a very nice idea’’ but said it was too soon to consider it.
‘‘First and foremost we would have to check with the family but they have more important priorities at the moment.’’
Sports broadcaster Tony Veitch said on his Facebook page that Harmon was in talks with New Zealand Rugby about the idea, however, Harmon said that was incorrect.
‘‘I told him what I’m telling you – we think it’s a very nice idea, a very respectful idea, and in due course, if the opportunity presents itself, we will consider it . . . but like I said, we will speak with the family.’’
If it went ahead, Collins would be the second former All Black to have an aisle at the stadium named after him. Tana Umaga has aisle 13 named after him.
Collins and his partner, Alana Madill, were killed in a crash in southern France at 3am local time on Friday.
Baby Ayla was the sole survivor of the crash on the Beziers motorway in the southern French region of Languedoc.
A tourist bus ploughed into the Collins family car, sending it crashing into a median barrier.
On Sunday, flowers began piling up around a remembrance book at Te Rauparaha Arena where Porirua residents were penning tributes to the late great hero of their community.
‘‘People are in shock – as you can imagine it’s a topic of conversation and the word that comes into mind for everybody is disbelief,’’ Leggett said of the city’s reaction to the death.
‘‘He obviously meant so much to so many people in this city.
‘‘He was a symbol of success and obviously a great rugby talent,’’ Leggett said.
Fairoa Aporo had lived down the road from the Collins family in Waitangirua and was shellshocked to learn of his neighbour’s death. ‘‘I was like, eh? Everybody was holding their breath like: this is a joke. This has gotta be a joke, because this fella won’t die, man.
‘‘He’s a legend and legends don’t die. He’s the man around here. ‘‘It’s like a big loss,’’ Aporo said. ‘‘To me, you know that fella – he was Porirua.
‘‘Everyone from my generation upwards would know that.’’
Porirua would always be family to any member of the Collins family including little orphan Ayla, a teary fan, Miriam Tornquist, said.
‘‘She’ll always have support here if she wants to take advantage of that.’’
Meanwhile, a givealittle page has been set up to fundraise for the orphaned baby.
Contributors are being asked to give what they can, or to donate the figures of $1002 or $48 to mark Collins’ All Blacks number and the number of tests he played.
Leggett said he did not know of any major public events planned to mark Collins’ death but said the focus now would be on how the family wished to conduct the funeral.