All Blacks in haka tribute to Collins
A group of New Zealand internationals performed a "haka" tribute on Thursday at the spot where former teammate Jerry Collins was killed in a car crash last week.
Ali Williams, Carl Hayman, Neemia Tialata, Chris Masoe and Byron Kelleher ran barefoot and performed the famous All Blacks pre-match ritual on the road near the southern French town of Béziers where the accident took place.
Samoan-born Collins, who played second-tier French rugby with Narbonne last season, and his wife Alana Madill were killed when their car collided with a bus in the early hours of last Friday.
The video of the ex-All Black internationals doing the "haka" – the traditional Maori war dance performed by New Zealand's Rugby Union team before each international match – was posted on the Twitter account of Bayonne's Tialata.
It shows fellow French-based Kiwi players Masoe, Kelleher, Williams and Hayman paying homage to Collins, who won the last of his 48 caps in 2007 in their World Cup quarterfinal defeat to France in Cardiff.
The couple's two-month old baby daughter Ayla remains in a critical condition in hospital in Montpellier following the accident.
Saying goodbye 2the brother and his partner the way we were all brought together #AllBlackFamily #RIPJC #RIPALANA pic.twitter.com/axR597CVPO
— Neemia Tialata (@NeemiaTialata) June 11, 2015
* Meanwhile Collins is to be farewelled at a public funeral service in Porirua next week.
Collins' manager and Collins family spokesperson Tim Castle said Jerry's funeral service would be held at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua next Wednesday, June 17, and members of the public were welcome to attend.
"The family knows that Jerry was loved and admired by the people of his hometown of Porirua and beyond," Castle said.
"He was one of them and played a big role in the community.
"The family understands and knows very well that many people want to join them in paying tribute and showing their love and respect for him," Castle added.
Castle said the family also wanted to acknowledge Porirua City Council who had provided "invaluable assistance" in helping organise the funeral, including making Te Rauparaha Arena available for the service.
"The Porirua and Wellington communities – as well as people from all around New Zealand and overseas – have rallied around the family as they go through this difficult time and they again would like to pass on their heartfelt thanks for that support. It has given them great comfort."
Castle said Collins' body will be accompanied home to New Zealand over the next few days by a small group, including his cousin and fellow former All Black Tana Umaga and dear friends former All Black Chris Masoe and his wife Gemma and Stevenson Malotu'upule.
He will then be looked after by the family before the funeral on Wednesday.
Castle also said the family had also respectfully asked for privacy from the public and media around Jerry's return to the country.
Following the funeral service at Te Rauparaha Arena, Collins will be buried in a ceremony for extended family and friends.
Castle said Alana's family were in France to organise her funeral arrangements and were also keeping vigil at the hospital with baby Ayla.
Emotional… #RockyElsom #LeiTomiki, #FranckTournaire #ChrisMasoe #NeemiaTialata #RIPJERRY #RIPALANA #PRAYFORAYLA pic.twitter.com/JGvnJlfgCy
— RugbyPigs (@RugbyPigs) June 8, 2015
Awesome tribute #ChrisMasoe dyeing your hair for the Uso. The love for the brother #RIPJerryCollins pic.twitter.com/rbKXzXFiBy
— Apollo Perelini (@Apollo11Rugby) June 6, 2015
