KEY POINTS:
Former All Black Jerry Collins is off to France after signing a three-year deal with the Tana Umaga coached Toulon club.
Collins, who was released from his New Zealand Rugby Union contract last month, is the sixth All Black to join the club after Umaga, Andrew Mehrtens, Anton Oliver, Saimone Taumoepeau and Nathan Mauger.
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal said the former Wellington and Hurricanes loose forward will arrive in France in mid-July in time for pre-season training.
Collins had a year left on his New Zealand Rugby Union contract when he decided to seek a release last month, which the union agreed to.
But All Blacks coach Graham Henry didn't give him the greatest of sendoffs, saying Collins would not have been selected for the national team on his form in this year's Super 14.
Collins said then he had made his decision despite not having any overseas offers on the table.
"I am probably more of a package kind of guy - if the city's right, the people are good and the culture's there, that far outweighs the money," he said.
Asked how he thought he would remembered, he said: "I don't want to be remembered once I finish with rugby. I just want to fade away into the sunset.
But he was back in the limelight earlier this month when he lined up for a Wellington rugby league side. He was unregistered and played a false name, earning his team a fine.
He captained the All Blacks three times in the course of his career, which began in 2001 against Argentina.
Meanwhile, Toulon also announced the signing of Waikato prop Ben Castle on a two-year deal today.
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
