About 1500 people, who had gathered in Narbonne in memory of Jerry Collins, clapped after his former teammate Chris Masoe laid flowers beneath a billboard erected by the town’s mayor in memory of the former All Black. Source: Kevin Fathi
Former All Black’s funeral date to be decided in a few days, as donations to memorial fund pass $24,000.
Details of the final farewell to Porirua's finest - Jerry Collins - will be known within the next few days, his family says.
Members of the extended Collins family from Samoa have arrived in Wellington.
An uncle told the Herald yesterday the family chiefs were gathering to discuss and organise "what needed to be organised", but that preparations had not been finalised as they were still working to get Collins home.
"We're just sticking together and his parents have gone to another house because it's been [overwhelming]."
Collins and his partner, Alana Madill, were killed when the car they were in lost control on a motorway near Beziers, in southern France, on Friday (NZT).
Their 4-month-old daughter, Ayla, suffered serious injuries and remained yesterday in a serious condition in a Montpellier hospital.
Former All Blacks Chris Masoe and Neemia Tialata have travelled to see Ayla as well as formally identify Collins. They have also dressed him in preparation for his journey back to New Zealand.
"Ta'i fa'afetai. [We are so thankful]," Collins' uncle said about his nephew's former teammates' actions. "Thank you to those boys."
The family were last night meeting with their church minister for prayers.
Earlier, Collins' minister spoke to the Herald and paid tribute to a young man who always made time for his church and local community.
Rev Nove Vailaau, of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in Porirua, wrote a poignant tribute on Facebook where he revealed intimate details about the man who everyone else knew as the tough All Black legend, but who the community regarded and loved as one of its sons.
Former All Black Jerry Collins in action.
"Spiritually, Jerry Collins had a Samoan and Christian upbringing. He was brought up here at Waitangirua in a very Christian family of grand uncles and grand aunties who blend Samoan cultural principles and Christian values in a very disciplined manner."
Mr Vailaau told the Herald Collins was schooled the "fa'asamoa" (Samoan) way within his family and at church and was therefore required to attend community events, church services and carry out chores and duties all youngsters had to do - even when his rugby career started putting him on a pedestal.
"To us, he was still one of the kids here. He never showed off that he was an All Black or this professional player. He was still Jerry. He still had to help carry the pusa apa (boxes of corned beef) out at funerals - just like all the boys - or pray when it was his turn."
Mr Vailaau said both sides of Collins' family were widely known within the Porirua community and therefore Sunday's service was particularly poignant.
"It was a difficult one for us. In our usual prayers, we always mention those members who are abroad for work or school or sport. I had to remind everyone that even though we pray for protection over them, [tragedies] can still happen."
Meanwhile, fundraising efforts to help baby Ayla continue. The Jerry Collins Memorial Fund had reached over $24,000 by 9.30pm last night.
