It's official: Jerry 'retires' from NZ rugby

All Blacks, Hurricanes and Wellington loose forward Jerry Collins has announced his "retirement" from rugby in New Zealand, clearing the way for him to take up a rich offshore contract, most probably in France.
Collins quits NZ rugby
Europe beckons for Collins
Toulon ready to pounce
Jerry's final conversion

In making the decision, officially effective from Saturday night's losing Super 14 semifinal in Christchurch, the 27-year-old said it had been difficult to leave a sport he'd loved since pulling on his first rugby boots in Porirua in the late-1980s.

"But I've been thinking about things for a while and I know in my heart that it's time to step back. That's just where I'm at," he said via a statement.

His heavy heart might be helped by the offers he is about to receive from cashed up clubs in the north eager to land one of the world's best blindside flankers. To that end he also owes a huge debt of gratitude to the New Zealand Rugby Union which has elected to let him out of a contract that ran through until late next year.

Collins has been closely linked to a number of leading UK clubs for the last few months now, and Tana Umaga's Toulon outfit, which has clinched promotion to the Top 14 league in France, has also officially added Collins to its "wanted" list.

Given the well-established connection between Umaga and Collins, and the seemingly bottomless pockets of Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal, it would not be a surprise to see Collins end up in the south-east of France at the new chic club on the French scene.

NZRU bosses admitted they felt obliged to grant the player a release from his contract given his long service to the New Zealand game. He made his provincial debut for Wellington in 1999, his first Super 14 appearance in 2001, and made the step into the All Blacks the same year.

All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen admitted to some surprise that Collins had made the decision at this stage, but said the player had been in discussion with Graham Henry and that they had "a bit of an inkling" that this could be in the air.

But Hansen said it was wrong to assume that Collins had made his call purely and simply to take up a big-money contract up north. 

"He'll play for the (British) Baabaas, come back, play some club games, and then we'll see what happens," Hansen told Radio Sport.

"Jerry's a straight up and down guy and if he was going to go somewhere else he'd tell you about it. I've got no doubt he'll probably play some rugby in the UK or France but right now he's just had enough of rugby and wants a break."

Collins, a brutally hard player with an uncompromising attitude and unyielding work ethic, has carved a stellar reputation as one of the game's most respected loose forwards. He played 48 tests for the All Blacks, including three as captain.

"It's really difficult for me to talk about myself but I know I've always been totally committed to every minute of every game and that's the way I want to go out," he said.

Collins, who will soon join the Barbarians for their matches against England and Ireland, said the decision was prompted by a desire to make a "clean break" from the game in this country and that he made his mind up during the closing stages of the Super 14.

But he added he had no overseas contracts to consider and was not rushing to make a decision on future options.

"New Zealand rugby has done a lot for me and I really do appreciate the way this has been worked out," he added.

Collins said his immediate priority was to have a well-earned break from the game.

"With me, I'd like to think that what you saw is what you got. I always tried to put as much as I could into every match on the field. I wanted to leave at the right time, and after thinking about things over the past week and then getting through Saturday night's match, that time is now."

Among Collins' 48 tests for the All Blacks included three as captain; against Argentina in 2006 and Portugal and Romania in 2007.  He also played eight seasons with the Hurricanes and amassed 47 provincial caps for Wellington dating back to 1999.

Collins said he followed a lot of overseas sports and was impressed with the way basketball legend Michael Jordan had managed his own departure from the game.

"Jordan said he only ever tried to be the best player he could be and he had a great time doing it.  As far as rugby's concerned, that's the way I've tried to do things as well."

NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs said Collins' outstanding service to the New Zealand game had been taken into account in allowing him an early release.

"We are sorry to see him go, but respect his wishes and have reached agreement on his release given his length of service and personal circumstances," said Hobbs.

All Blacks coach Henry acknowledged Collins' contribution in the test arena as well as his uncompromising style of play.

"Jerry has always had a real physicality about his game, but what has impressed us most as All Blacks coaches is the way he has worked at other aspects of his play and developed into a far more complete player," said Henry.

National forwards coach Hansen added: "He's one of those players you can rely on to front up on game day. He was always focused on the task at hand, and didn't get distracted by the occasion or the opposition. He has always been his own man and done things his own way, and that way has served the All Blacks well over the last seven years."

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper paid tribute to "an outstanding player and leader" and said Collins would be sorely missed.

"Jerry has put his body on the line for his team-mates time and time again without a single complaint and played the game to the very highest level," said Cooper.

"But JC is far more than simply a great player, he is also an inspiration to those around him and has had a massive influence on the players and coaches he has worked with.

"He is universally respected by everyone in the game and it is a mark of the man that he is the first player to congratulate or commiserate with opponents after the final whistle, no matter what the result."

Added Greg Peters, CEO of Wellington Rugby and the Hurricanes: "Jerry has demonstrated tremendous pride in representing the area in which he grew up. He has lived those traditional rugby values of local pride and loyalty in today’s professional environment, which will be an important part of the legacy he leaves behind.

"Anyone who saw Jerry captain his club side at the age of just 18 knew he was a special player, but nobody could have guessed how much of a contribution he would make to the game in New Zealand."

Jerry Collins - Just the facts

Position: Loose forward.

Physical: 1.91m, 109kg.

Born: 04.11.80, Apia (Samoa).

Province: Wellington. Provincial caps: 47. Provincial points: 55 (11t). Provincial debut: 1999 v Manawatu.

Super 14 caps: 85. Super 14 points: 32 (6t, 1c). Super 14 debut: 2001 v Reds.

Test caps: 48. Test points: 25 (5t). Test debut: 2001 v Argentina.

How will you remember Jerry Collins' New Zealand rugby career? Pay tribute to him if you wish in our comments system below.

 

- © Fairfax NZ News