This weekend, Porirua will commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the passing of All Black Great Jerry Collins, with a series of events at Jerry Collins Stadium designed to honour his contribution to rugby and the local community.
Jerry Collins died in a tragic car accident in southern France on 5 June 2015, along with his partner Alana Madill. The couple’s infant daughter, Ayla, survived the crash and today still lives in Canada. Jerry and Alana’s passing was felt deeply in Porirua and across the global rugby community.
Jerry Collins was a standout player known for his physicality on the field and strong ties to his hometown. He played 48 tests for the All Blacks between 2001 and 2008, earning a reputation as one of the sport’s most powerful defenders. He also captained the national side during the 2006 season and again during the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Born in Apia, Samoa and raised in Porirua, Collins was a product of the local rugby system. He attended Tawa College and St Patrick’s College, Wellington, and regularly returned to play for his club, Northern United (Norths), even at the height of his international career. His connection to Norths and Porirua remained strong throughout his life, and the stadium bearing his name stands as a tribute to that legacy.
To mark the occasion, a tribute match will take place on Friday 7 June at 6pm featuring a team of former All Blacks and Hurricanes players facing off against a St Pat’s Town Invitational XV. On Saturday, the annual Norths Old Timers Day will see Northern United take on Paraparaumu RFC in the regular fixture. A haka will be performed in Collins’ honour, and the Collins family will provide food and a sausage sizzle for attending children.
Collins was known for his humility and strong work ethic, he was a respected figure in both domestic and international rugby. In 2015, shortly after their Rugby World Cup win, several All Black teammates, including Ma’a Nonu and Dan Carter, visited Collins’ gravesite with the Webb Ellis Cup as a mark of respect.
This weekend’s events offer an opportunity for the community to come together and remember a player who represented Porirua on the world stage, while staying grounded in the place and people that shaped him.
Upcoming Events at Jerry Collins Stadium:
- Friday, 6 June 2025, 6:00 PM: A tribute match featuring former All Blacks and Hurricanes players against a St Patrick’s College Town Invitational XV.
- Saturday, 7 June 2025, 2.45pm: Northern United Rugby Football Club, Norths Premiers vs Paremata-Plimmerton. Ivan Hardgrave Trophy & Taku Parai Tohu.
Saturday’s match will see Northern United face Paremata-Plimmerton for the Ivan Hardgrave Trophy. The trophy honours Ivan Hardgrave, a long-serving rugby administrator for Titahi Bay RFC and later Northern United, as well as a respected Porirua City Councillor. Originally contested among Western Bays clubs including Porirua, Titahi Bay, Paremata-Plimmerton and Tawa, the trophy is now a celebrated local derby between Norths and Pare-Plim.
For more information on this weekend, visit Norths Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NURFC/
