Ngāti Porou East Coast remembers JC

A small tribute to a great player and person ….

A while back when the Hurricanes use to send team mates out across the country.

Jerry Collins, David Smith and one other were assigned to the Coast.

They were escorted back up to the Tokomaru Bay where school children came from every direction to meet their heros.

Each rugby player stood up and gave a brief of themselves with Jerry being the last.

He simply stood up and said … ‘Hi, I’m Jerry’  and he received the biggest cheer!

Jerry Collins made New Zealand Secondary Schools through his performance in the 1st XV side at St. Patrick’s in Wellington for three seasons running in 1996, 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.

(pictured – Jerry wearing Pakirikiri Marae singlet gifted by EC referee Daryl Goldsmith)

Jerry Collins 1980 – 2015

R.I.P