The spirit of the late Jerry Collins will loom large over the Hurricanes as they trot onto Sky Stadium to face the Crusaders on Friday night.
Collins’ father, Frank, and sister, Brenda, presented the Hurricanes’ jerseys in an emotional ceremony this week when coach Clark Laidlaw named an unchanged starting XV.
June 5th will mark 10 years since the Hurricanes legend and 48-test All Black died aged 34 in a car crash in France, alongside his wife, Alana Madill. Their infant daughter, Ayla, survived after Collins reportedly shielded her from the worst of the impact.
Laidlaw says the idea to invite Collins’ family stemmed from the approaching 10-year anniversary.
Collins was a colossus of Wellington rugby. The tough loose forward played 85 matches for the Hurricanes between 2001 and 2008, and his impact was such that Porirua Park’s grandstand was renamed Jerry Collins Stadium in his memory.
Peter Umaga-Jensen, who will play his 50th Hurricanes match on Friday, recalled as a child watching Collins play alongside his uncle, Tana Umaga.
Umaga-Jensen says it was special to see the Collins family.
He says the highlights that they were showing show how much Collins meant to the game, and he is hopeful they can get the job done for him this week.
The Hurricanes will take on the Crusaders at 7.05pm on Friday.
In other matches, the Waratahs will take on the Chiefs at 9.35pm Friday, the Blues will host Moana Pasifika at 4.35pm Saturday, the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will take on the Highlanders at 7.05pm this Saturday at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, and the Reds will play the Brumbies at 9.35pm Saturday.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
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