Jerry Collins
Encyclopedia
Jerry Collins is a New Zealand rugby union
footballer who formerly played for the national team, the All Blacks
in which he was capped
48 times. He now plays for Yamaha Jubilo, in Japanese Top league rugby.
for two seasons running in 1997 and 1998 and was Player of the Tournament at the 1999 World Junior Championships (Under-19) which New Zealand won, becoming the first player for that team to be called up to the All Blacks.
He was named as All Black captain in world cup matches against Portugal and Romania played in Lyon and Toulouse respectively, once again standing in for regular captain Richie McCaw
. Collins is known for his hard hits throughout his rugby career and his physical strength earned him a number of nicknames.
In June 2006, he captained the All Blacks in a one-off Test match against Argentina
, where he led his team to a 25–19 victory in Buenos Aires
becoming the 61st captain of the All Blacks.
In October 2007, following New Zealand's exit from the 2007 Rugby World Cup
, Collins was vacationing in Devon
when he was spotted by Barnstaple
Rugby Football Club's head coach Kevin Squire who invited him to watch it play at the weekend. Much to the club's surprise Collins turned up so they asked if he minded running a coaching session with the junior section. After doing this Kevin Squire thanked Collins and asked if there was anything they could do to repay him, to which Collins replied he just wanted to play rugby. So the following Saturday Collins turned out for the club's 2nd XV match against local side Newton Abbot
. In a match a few weeks later for the Barbarians he wore the Barnstaple
socks.
He played rugby league in the Wellington Competition and he registered as a different name in result the team was fined.
Collins retired from the All Blacks
in May 2008.
In May 2009, Collins agreed a two year deal to join Welsh Region team Ospreys, scoring a try on his league debut against Irish team Connacht Rugby
. While playing against Ulster
he made one of his hard hits while running with the ball and colliding with Ulster player Dan Tuohy
and resulting with Dan being knocked out. He also captained the Ospreys against Munster which they won, taking over from Paul James
as the club's co-captain. He was Ospreys' Players' Player of the Year in the 09/10 season.
He is currently in the 2011-2012 Yamaha Júbilo
squad playing in the Top League
in Japan.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer who formerly played for the national team, the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in which he was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
48 times. He now plays for Yamaha Jubilo, in Japanese Top league rugby.
Early career
Collins made New Zealand Secondary Schools through his performance in the 1st XV side at St. Patrick's in WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
for two seasons running in 1997 and 1998 and was Player of the Tournament at the 1999 World Junior Championships (Under-19) which New Zealand won, becoming the first player for that team to be called up to the All Blacks.
Professional career and the All Blacks
Since debuting for the All Blacks in 2001, Collins has gone on to play 46 test matches, scoring four tries.He was named as All Black captain in world cup matches against Portugal and Romania played in Lyon and Toulouse respectively, once again standing in for regular captain Richie McCaw
Richie McCaw
Richard Hugh "Richie" McCaw is a New Zealand rugby union player, and is the current test captain. He plays in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby teams...
. Collins is known for his hard hits throughout his rugby career and his physical strength earned him a number of nicknames.
In June 2006, he captained the All Blacks in a one-off Test match against Argentina
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
, where he led his team to a 25–19 victory in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
becoming the 61st captain of the All Blacks.
In October 2007, following New Zealand's exit from the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
, Collins was vacationing in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
when he was spotted by Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
Rugby Football Club's head coach Kevin Squire who invited him to watch it play at the weekend. Much to the club's surprise Collins turned up so they asked if he minded running a coaching session with the junior section. After doing this Kevin Squire thanked Collins and asked if there was anything they could do to repay him, to which Collins replied he just wanted to play rugby. So the following Saturday Collins turned out for the club's 2nd XV match against local side Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....
. In a match a few weeks later for the Barbarians he wore the Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
socks.
He played rugby league in the Wellington Competition and he registered as a different name in result the team was fined.
Collins retired from the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
in May 2008.
In May 2009, Collins agreed a two year deal to join Welsh Region team Ospreys, scoring a try on his league debut against Irish team Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Connacht that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 comprising teams from the Celtic nations plus Italy. Normally, it also competes in the second-tier pan-European club competition, the European Challenge Cup...
. While playing against Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
he made one of his hard hits while running with the ball and colliding with Ulster player Dan Tuohy
Dan Tuohy
Dan Tuohy is an Ireland international rugby union player, currently playing for Ulster Rugby. He plays as a lock.-Career:Tuohy started rugby on the wing for Weston-super-Mare R.F.C...
and resulting with Dan being knocked out. He also captained the Ospreys against Munster which they won, taking over from Paul James
Paul James
Paul John James is a soccer analyst, former head coach and Canadian national team player.In 2003 James was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame...
as the club's co-captain. He was Ospreys' Players' Player of the Year in the 09/10 season.
He is currently in the 2011-2012 Yamaha Júbilo
Yamaha Jubilo
Yamaha Jubilo is a rugby union team based in Iwata, Shizuoka. The team came second behind Toshiba Brave Lupus in the second season of Japanese rugby's Top League...
squad playing in the Top League
Top League
The Top League is a professional rugby union league created by the Japan Rugby Football Union to drive up the overall standard and popularity of the sport in the country and improve the results of the Japan national rugby union team. The first season was 2003-04 and featured 12 teams...
in Japan.
Other
- Cousin of former All Blacks captain Tana UmagaTana UmagaJonathan Ionatana Falefasa "Tana" Umaga, ONZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. He played for the Hurricanes starting with the Super 12's inception in 1996 and took over the captaincy in 2003...
- Captained the All Blacks for the first time against Argentina in Buenos Aires in June 2006.
- Scored two tries against Italy in New Zealand’s opening match of the RWC 2007.