Jerry Collins obituary

Barnstorming All Black known for his shuddering tackles and colourful characterJerry Collins, who has died aged 34 in a car crash in France, was a rugby union flanker of Samoan descent who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most feared All Black forwards of the modern era. Even in this most physical of sports, Collins – the hard man enforcer of the back row – stood out as a purveyor of especially shuddering tackles, often emerging from a pile of bodies with a smile on his face. Opponents found that stopping him in full flow on the rugby field was not so amusing.With bleached blon…