Jerry Collins tragedy: Calls to honour rugby great

Talk of a permanent memorial for former All Black Jerry Collins is something Porirua mayor Nick Leggett is open to - but only once the family has had time to grieve.

Calls to honour Collins with a stadium and a memorial cup named after him have been pouring in on social media following his tragic death in a car crash near Beziers in southern France on Friday night NZT.

Jerry Collins, seen holding his daughter Ayla, with his partner Alana Madill in the background, attending a charity auction in France on the night he died. Photo / Zebulon Noguera

His partner Alana Madill was also killed and the couple's baby daughter Ayla is in intensive care in hospital.

A Facebook page calling for Westpac Stadium's aisle six to be named after the rugby great has received more than 11,000 likes so far.

Another page pushing for Porirua Park to be renamed Jerry Collins Memorial Stadium has received almost 5000 likes and Facebook users have also put forward the idea of renaming the street Collins grew up on.

Mr Leggett said remembering the "Porirua boy" with a permanent memorial was a possible option down the line.

Collins' rugby career kick off when he was just a kid in Porirua and he came to be a real "presence" in the community, Mr Leggett said.

"We're open to that but it's a little bit premature because actually we've got to allow people the time to grieve.

"We won't be doing anything without talking to his family and they're actually not in a position to have this discussion at the moment, they just want to get their boy home."

Jerry Collins and Alana Madill. Photo / Kiera Deschaine

A remembrance book outside Porirua's Te Rauparaha Arena was filling up fast and flowers were piling up, Mr Leggett said.

There was talk of groups holding candlelit vigils in the city but nothing concrete yet, he said.

Collins was honoured at an exhibition opening today for Porirua's 50th birthday with a photo and his All Blacks jersey on display.

Jerry Collins with the Samoan Rugby League jersey he successfully bid for at a charity auction in honour of Henry Tuilagi in Perpignan, France on the night he died. Photo / Zebulon Noguera

"The groundswell of public support shows you the high regard that Jerry is held in in the Porirua community.

"There's a lot on [Facebook]. We're a social media town, we're big on that."

Westpac Stadium chief executive Shane Harmon said renaming aisle six was a nice idea but it was a bit early to consider it.

The organisation would discuss with the family and Wellington Rugby before any permanent memorial was set up, he said.

"We wouldn't consider anything unless we actually discussed it with the families. I think for us it's a bit early but we think it's a very nice idea, it's a sweet idea, and we appreciate the sentiment.

"Now is just not the appropriate time and we will discuss it with the appropriate people, at the appropriate time."

Jerry Collins with the Samoan Rugby League jersey he successfully bid for at a charity auction in honour of Henry Tuilagi in Perpignan, France, pictured on the night he crashed. Photo / Zebulon Nogera

A New Zealand Rugby spokesman said the organisation was not able to comment at this stage.

A Givealittle fundraising page set up to support baby Ayla has raised more than $8000 so far, with a target of raising $25,000.

One donor has paid tribute to the couple on the page, writing: "Little baby Ayla, get well soon ... One day you will know how people felt about your mum and dad. Because they cannot be with you now, you have many uncles and aunties in the rugby world who want the best for you."

The wreckage of Jerry Collins' car, pictured in the hghway near Bezers, southern France. Photo / Jean-Pierre Amarger

Family and friends gather

Family and friends have made it to Montpellier to be beside Collins' critically-injured baby daughter, including her aunt from Canada and extended Samoan rugby family.

Two France-based All Blacks, Neemia Tialata and his wife Sally, and Chris Masoe and his wife Jenny, had been at the hospital earlier today (NZT). They had also been to see Collins' body, to his family's relief, Castles said.

"The Samoan community in France is well represented.They have been to see Jerry, which has been wonderful for his family."

Ms Madill's sister had also flown from Canada to France overnight.

"So there are representatives from both sides of the family there close by."

Castles was still working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on bringing Collins home.

Jerry Collins the night before the crash.

Collins' father Frank said there was a lot of organising today with many family from Samoa arriving in New Zealand.

"I think the whole lot of them are coming, there's a lot of pepole," he said.

"It's going to be big when he arrives, everyone will be here."

They were still working out if family would travel to France to bring the body back.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said a consular adviser travelled from the New Zealand Embassy in Paris to Montpellier to facilitate the repatriation.

The embassy was also providing consular assistance to the family, she said.

The ministry would not be providing any further information out of respect for the family's wish for privacy, she said.