The All Blacks’ Strongest Enforcer – Jerry Collins

Experience the life and legacy of Jerry Collins, one of the most iconic figures in rugby history. This documentary charts his journey from Porirua to the All Blacks (and the mighty Ospreys), showcasing his uncompromising physicality and unwavering commitment to the game. We delve into his personal life, his connections with teammates and fans, and the devastating accident that cut his life short. The story of Jerry Collins is one of passion, dedication, and tragedy. This documentary pays tribute to the legendary All Blacks flanker, exploring his life, career, and the legacy he left behind. A celebration of a man who left an indelible mark on the world of rugby.

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#JerryCollins #allblacks #rugby #documentary #RugbyLegend

when I see the name Jerry Collins what do you think of your style of play has become pretty well known real a really physical player is it always the way you’ve played yeah hearing the rumors of how great he was how hard he hit and uh how hard he ran away you know he was the youngest in every team he was in but he played like he had the most experienced it’s Jerry he was always about the people in puty door big tack by that’s what Jerry Collins brings to the table time and time again a thund know how good Jerry Collins is you’ve you’ve been involved with the club for a while yeah I started playing uh junior rugby here and uh I suppose back when I was like 11 and I’m just pretty much doing um what everyone else was doing traditionally it’s League area and so a lot of guys would play Union Saturday and going and play league on Sunday so he was one of the young uh UL s uparts ended up being invited to play for the O team that was going over to s in 1998 yeah started off pretty much with with the sevens really from a young age Jerry was one of those guys that didn’t really stick with the group he’d go and do his own thing but yeah I guess you know we started drinking together and then he disappeared for a little bit and then of all places you met up with them talking to some some random people in Oakland and bring them into McDonald’s to eat with our team he was humble a young man with an old soul another of the Young Guns with a big future when we ask the question how good was Jerry Collins it can be answered in two ways firstly very secondly he had his own haircut in rugby O8 somewhere in the cosmos a voice whispered how much bicep should we give this young saman boy and the universe replied yes it’s near impossible to talk about Jerry Collins without first mentioning his physical presence both in ball carrying and defense there were elements of his game Often overshadowed by his physicality his Relentless work rate handling skills football skills and game sense were all topnotch improving year on year during his career as an old black it wasn’t long before Jerry became a well-known figure in Wellington rugby his commitment to the game and his humility left him loved by many in the city’s rugby Seas he won the title in 2000 one of just three players remaining from that team Collins has been in vintage form recently after a winning world junior Championship Campaign which saw him crowned player of the tournament his cool up to the Hurricanes came soon after but the return of Jerry Collins to The Blindside plank certainly gives them a chance to finish on a high note Collins missed the last two matches but he’s an inspirational character character and a certain to drag the best out of his teammates following many dominant displays he proved his worth among the best in the southern hemisphere the cool up to the national team became inevitable 20-year-old hur’s number eight Jerry Collins wins his first cap you always tell yourself you know that’s people tell be telling you lies if they say they don’t think yourself all the time you know good enough to be here when he first hit the deck there there’s quite a lot of pressure on that right shoulder the first point of impact he’s had a heck of a start Jerry Collins this would be a real shame as positional play Murray as you said has been outstanding and his support play but looks like but a disappointing debut wouldn’t hold Jerry back char Collins for the line and yes Gary Collins gets his first test drive brings to the table time and time again a thunderous Jerry Collins becomes the 61st test captain for the All Blacks it’s one you never forget now was fortunate enough to do you know three times and win three times whether it be the first time or um the last time you put the you know cuz you just never know when you when your last time going to be your last time after 48 caps for the All Blacks and recognition as one of the hardest hitters in the game his International career came to an end play 10 years and for the one Province and um and you know it’s it’s a pretty hard place to leave um it’s one of those things where um you know everybody goes through it I suppose you guys go through it um too you know you you sit at your des and you you wonder um you know could I be somewhere else you know but you know those fors pass you never make a change but um I’ve just decided that that’s probably the right time for me to to um B out um after the disappointment of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France Jerry’s attention shifted away from International Rugby however when holidaying in Devon Jerry would soon find himself back on a rugby pitch I saw this guy that looked remarkably like J col sat outside of the blue Groove and C but he was so friendly and I was spending about an hour with him down at the cafe and um during the context of conversation letting know that I was involved down here at B invited him down to Club on on the following Saturday when we had a home game the guys just didn’t leave they thought I was winding everyone up to be fair but he rocks up one of the first things he done was asked who he had to play match subst Jerry would stay in Europe joining a star studied ton team aiming for the top of Europe European rugby I just needed to change you know change of I suppose change of scenery change of country and change a lifestyle here Jerry would face a dilemma that confronts every man woman and child living in the south of France an insatiable desire unquenched by the Mediterranean heat a longing that starts with a simple thought in the beaming Sun what’s Swansea like Swansea is like a different country from from everywhere else but you know the people here um you they’re into the rugby for ospr fans like myself this was the Golden Era titles trophies and robberies in European competitions this was the greatest Welsh Club side of all time at the Ospreys he’s remembered as one of our very best a true gentleman who always had time for others after this memorable stint for the ospre Jerry joined Japanese side Yamaha juilo where media controversy certainly followed the most notable incident happened shortly after moving to Japan in hamamatsu he was found in possession of a 17 cm knife leading to his arrest Jerry would later call this a relief because he was being chased by a gang he got deported back to New Zealand this ranks a solid second on the list of JC controversies closely behind the time he had a piss on the pitch in 2015 Jerry made his final transfer joining French second division side n as injury cover for Rocky [Applause] [Music] Elson when making this mini documentary among the many challenges of finding footage online and deciding how to tell this vast story I had to accept that holistically representing Jerry’s life would be near impossible however the greatest measure of his character can be seen all over the world in the hearts of those he touched and the players who carried the egg after him on the 5th of June 2015 near the city of beier Jerry Collins was killed in a car crash alongside his wife Alana madil his daughter Aya was the only Survivor Jerry shielded her during the crash taking the brunt of the force it was felt all around the Rugby World so who was Jerry Collins while the journalists of the New Zealand Herald printed their opinions of the controversies the people of Wellington tell a different story when Jerry started playing for the club and we won our first Jubilee Cup in 2004 uh that was because of Jer and the influence he had on the team and the club but when you’re from Ptown if you made an impact like this kid have you seen in the last couple of days uh how the community is really behind this this young man you know to be honest uh I I took Jerry for granted with all the work that he’ done through his rugby and and off the field and it’s not until someone’s gone you realized how much work they had actually done um for everybody else I’ve never been to a funeral as big as this one uh and just being here I see how much uh jerus touch everybody not just in PA War but in uh Wellington a whole L new zealands and friends that have come overseas as well it’s huge Fearless Brave courageous a leader he changed lives in New Zealand and in sore and he had an impact on people’s lives in countries and communities far away doesn’t matter which Jersey he wore which country he played for or wherever he was playing in he was always representing us and he and he never failed to mention um put it all he had a huge impact on the club nice Kier he’s a people’s person [Applause] [Applause]