Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Jerry Collins

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Jerry Collins - The 'Terminator'

Former All Black enforcer Jerry Collins has moved from his stint in the south of France in Toulon, and is now playing for the Ospreys in Wales, alongside the likes of Ryan Jones, Shane Williams, and Marty Holah.

Collins, who left New Zealand in search of a different way of life and a new challenge, admits that he doesn’t think he'll play for the All Blacks again.

Capped 48 times, the powerful loose forward was a lethal tackler and one of the more intimidating players in world rugby. His unhappy season in Toulon meant a drop in his form slightly, but he has other priorities now, as he discusses in this clip.

One of the greatest rugby stories ever told was the day that Collins, an All Black legend, turned out for Devon club side Barnstable against a stunned group of butchers, builders, and bricklayers from Newton Abbot.

Jerry then went on to wear the clubs socks when playing for the Barbarians in an international match. The ‘Terminator’, who always had such a rough image from his brutal approach to the game, earned heaps of praise and respect for the gesture.

Back in 2003 though, Colin Charvis was on the receiving end of a not so forgiving Jerry Collins, and the 6ft3 hard man knocked Charvis out cold in a tackle that shook all who watched it.

Nicknames abound from that tackle, and the way he plays in general, but JC is just a laid back good guy, who loves rugby and has a passion for life around it.

I’m sure we’ll see more of Manic Hippo again very soon.

Time: 05:28
RD Forum: Read and see more about the hit on Charvis, when Tana Umaga came to the rescue.

Great player. It's shame he's not playing for the All Blacks any more. He seems like a nice guy.

By Kearney for tests, at September 01, 2009 3:51 pm
Awwww, missed first post :(

Collins is an example for me (it helps me being a second and third rower too).

Hes one of the games best and deserves to be in rugby's hall of fame next to the big names.

A guy with huge talent, strength, workrate and team spirit. Plus, a complete and utter gentleman, a regular guy and a bloke you'd like to have as a friend. This barbarians bit is classic JC.

Congrats from Portugal, Jerry

By Xavier, at September 01, 2009 3:56 pm
I don't think he's reading you Xavier

By Stu, at September 01, 2009 4:00 pm
Cheers Xavier my bro.

By JC, at September 01, 2009 4:12 pm
Nah seriously.. I couldnt agree more with Xavier.. well said.

Stu that's a bit uncalled for.

Great vid. Looks like a totally chilled guy, unlike what we think of him as. Looking forward to seeing him in action for the O's.

By FrankyH, at September 01, 2009 4:14 pm
Nice to see Newton get a mention, that day will go down in legend at our club with many I got tackled by Jerry stories! I don't remember any butchers playing though RD...

By Chinocchio, at September 01, 2009 4:47 pm
Maybe Collins saw the writing on the wall and got out of NZ rugby when he could. Of course, the same would have to be said for all the guys that left, but it seemed to coincide perfectly with him wanting to do something else, like he said.

Sounds like a great guy, down to earth, all that.

I remember his run against the French where he practically knocked the guy's arm off at the shoulder.

By realrugby, at September 01, 2009 4:48 pm
Jerry Collins is still a great player and I hope he could do his best at Ospreys. all the best

By adrian, at September 01, 2009 4:50 pm
Met him in a bar once when out with some mates. We tried to buy him a pint but he refused and bought all of us drinks instead! Great guy, great player.

By Ted, at September 01, 2009 4:58 pm
JC versus Jannick Jauzion = one winner...

By Anonymous, at September 01, 2009 5:21 pm
I heard his great mates with Schalk Burger

By Alain, at September 01, 2009 5:43 pm
Absolute legend of the game, seems like a quality guy as well.
Probably one of the strongest rugby players ever to play the game.

By Chris M, at September 01, 2009 6:36 pm
Seems like a genuine good guy, just trying to get as much fun and joy out of everything he can.

Although he had a bad year with Toulon, he's still one the best No.6's around. Hope he can hit top form with the Ospreys!

The Barnstable 2nd XV game and him wearing their socks in a BaaBaa game is pure class!

By Sander, at September 01, 2009 6:38 pm
Jerry is so polite ^^

By Ben, at September 01, 2009 6:59 pm
one of my all-time favorite players.

By Anonymous, at September 01, 2009 7:44 pm
JC is a real legend. Huge talent and absolute beast

By Anonymous, at September 01, 2009 8:42 pm
Hes still a damn rock in defence, went to watch leeds vs ospreys friendly and he came on and nailed their flyhalf/centre.
Lets hope he gets a full 80mins against ediburgh.

By WelshOsprey, at September 01, 2009 9:09 pm
hahaha samoan syco...lol nahhh man jerry will play 4 Manu Samoa 2011 world cup...chooohoooo jerry collin n brian lima are best buddies 2 legends indeed...

By Anonymous, at September 01, 2009 9:14 pm
Shame the rumours of him coming back a couple xmas's ago to play for Barnstaple against Bideford on boxing day didnt come true, now that would have been awesome, to play with JC would be great, but to play against him in a 'friendly' would have been just as good!

By Anonymous, at September 01, 2009 9:52 pm
Was one of my favourite player when he used to be an AB. He had a pretty poor season last year with Toulon and that's a shame he can't stay longer in Top14...
As far as I know he had an offer from Toulouse too when he went to Toulon, maybe he would have succeeded...
I just can imagine the power of the 3rd row : Dusautoir-Picamoles-Collins !

Well best wishes for his welsh carreer :)

By ToulouseFan, at September 01, 2009 11:17 pm
Although he is a good defender and tackler, I must say this guy's kind of overrated in overall. Anyway, looks like a nice bloke and a good character, i imagined him talking like a neanderthal before I heard him.

By Derick, at September 02, 2009 2:51 am
Too be fair he got a nasty knee injury when playing for Toulon. I don't think he was ever really fully fit.

By Anonymous, at September 02, 2009 4:07 am
Great story.

Adam Jones did a similar thing in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, a few years back. Jones's uncle is a Red Deer Titan and asked Jones to play for the 3rds upon visiting Canada a few years back. I hadn't played in a few years but could not pass up the chance to play with a Welsh international. He played flanker in the first half and I can still remember him turning an opponent with one hand and taking the ball with another. He played inside centre in the 2nd half and I am proud to say I gave him one offload pass.

Cheers to great guys like this who don't believe they are bigger than the game.

By Canadian Content, at September 02, 2009 4:25 am
i think you'll find most islanders are pretty chilled out in real life. They're pretty scary on the field, but quite laid back off it.
That's a generalisation, but I think it's pretty true.

By Jon, at September 02, 2009 8:24 am
Jerry Collins is still a great player, even in Toulon, he never was bad on the field. Medias shot him down the day he arrived in France because he refused an interview to L'Equipe newspaper... But Toulon fans knew here that he played at high level.

But off the field... Clear, he is a very,very nice guy, but drunk... He can't control himself, say and do anything.

I hope he'll do well there and be happiest closer to his child.

By 4LC4TR4Z, at September 02, 2009 8:49 am
The All Blacks miss him.

By Anonymous, at September 02, 2009 8:58 am
Uh yeah, Islanders tend to get a bit fiery when they're drunk too.

By Lennox, at September 02, 2009 9:52 am
Great player, really looking forward to seeing him get stuck into the Magners league.

By Anonymous, at September 02, 2009 11:09 am
The man put his soul into the game when he was with the All Blacks. It was surprising and disappointing that Henry dropped him from the squad in 08.

By Anonymous, at September 02, 2009 1:49 pm
Derick i dont see how he's overrated.
Collins is probably the best 6 to have ever set foot on a pitch (mentions for michael jones & colin charvis, they were just as good IMO)
Nobody came close to collins physicality and he had a good rugby brain.

By Anonymous, at September 02, 2009 5:44 pm
JC is going to immense for the Ospreys this year... whats with all the past tense about this guy.. he's 28!! and still a class player!

Hope he enjoys playing for the ospreys as much i'm going to enjoy watching him.

By Abs7, at September 02, 2009 8:08 pm
Did someone mention Colin Charvis in the same sentence as Michael Jones? Oh dear.

Your honest opinion has about as much credibility as your name.

By Dave, at September 02, 2009 10:44 pm
Dave keep your comments to yourself if you are going to mock someones opinions. you are only going to start a tit for tat thread!

By Bales, at September 02, 2009 11:20 pm
Colin Charvis was average.
Jerry Colins was twice the player.

By Jon, at September 03, 2009 1:03 am
I honestly dont see how you can say colin charvis was average.
Most tries for a forward ever
94 caps
2 lions caps
First and only black welsh captain

Ohh wait you guys must be making negative views on a player who's not your nationality and you know nothing about, just like every other bitter c**t on here.

By Anonymous, at September 03, 2009 1:48 am
wat a legend

By Chris, syd Aust, at September 03, 2009 7:00 am
Have to stick up for Charvis here, most tries ever for a forward really says something. He was a very underrated player and Wales still sorely miss him in my opinion.
Very different to Jerry though obviously, Charvis had amazing handling skills and a great brain as well as strength. Collins is all Power, a real enforcer.

By David, at September 03, 2009 11:23 am
Think maybe the Blacks are really missing guys like him and Ali Williams, they couldn't really cope with the springbok forwards without guys like them.

By David, at September 03, 2009 11:25 am
Jerry is a great player alright, only one problem is that hes playing against my local side tomorrow (Connacht) in his first competitive game or the Ospreys. Its great to see JC in the Magners League.

So apart from wishing him all the best in the future. . . . . . im not wishing him much luck tomorrow night!!!

By Westerner, at September 03, 2009 11:41 am
Bales, sure, apologies.. but I just thought that it was a bit silly comparing the two. I'm not bothered with statistics, I simply dont think Charvis was/is anywhere near as good a player as Michael Jones was.

Put it this way - Michael Jones would walk into any international side easily. Colin Charvis most certainly wouldnt.

I'm not even kiwi.. so I dont know why I'm standing up for Jones! I just found the opinion flawed..

Anyway.. I look forward to watching Jerry with the O's, and hope he (and they) do well this season, and reach that potential.

By Dave, at September 03, 2009 11:25 pm
We dont need him!!
Ospreys just spending money for no reason as usual. Hes just there for the fans.

By FuckSeanHolley, at September 04, 2009 8:20 am
JC? JCB more like!

Looks like a proper lad, It's a shame his time with the all black's ended.

~ J

By Anonymous, at February 28, 2010 10:39 pm
whenever i see him down the local gym he's always so chilled out on thye swiss ball. really nice guy.

By Anonymous, at March 06, 2010 3:23 pm
What gym does he train in? He seems like a real nice guy. A true gentleman.

By Anonymous, at October 17, 2010 9:29 pm