Jerry Collins retire

[skywalker]

The NZRU today thanked All Blacks, Hurricanes and Wellington veteran Jerry Collins for his ten years of first-class rugby in New Zealand. The 2008 Rebel Sport Super 14 is Collins’ last campaign as the 27-year-old has requested an early release from his NZRU contract.

“We’d like to formally thank Jerry for the service he has given to New Zealand rugby in the last decade,” said NZRU Chairman Jock Hobbs. “We are sorry to see him go, but respect his wishes and have reached agreement on his release given his length of service and personal circumstances.”

Collins has played 48 Tests for the All Blacks including three Tests as captain; against Argentina in 2006 and both Portugal and Romania in 2007. He has also played eight seasons with the Hurricanes and amassed 47 provincial caps for Wellington dating back to 1999.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry acknowledged Collins’ contribution to the All Blacks and his uncompromising style of play: “Jerry has been a key member of the All Blacks team for a number of years and played a major role in some of our best performances. He has always had a real physicality about his game, but what has impressed us most as All Blacks coaches is the way he has worked at other aspects of his play and developed into a far more complete player. We wish him well.”

All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen said: “Jerry has been a pleasure to coach. He’s one of those players you can rely on to front up on game day. He was always focused on the task at hand, and didn’t get distracted by the occasion or the opposition. He has always been his own man and done things his own way, and that way has served the All Blacks well over the last seven years. We’ve appreciated his contribution. He’ll be missed by New Zealand rugby at all levels.”

 

[skywalker]

Collins bids farewell

All Black and Wellington rugby hero Jerry Collins has announced his retirement from the game in New Zealand.

In making the decision, effective from Saturday night's semi final of the 2008 Rebel Sport Super 14, 27 year old Collins said it was difficult to leave a sport he'd loved since pulling on his first rugby boots in Porirua in the late 1980s.

“But I’ve been thinking about things for a while and I know in my heart that it’s time to step back. That’s just where I’m at.”

Collins said he had been granted an early release from his NZRU contract and would always be grateful to New Zealand rugby, whether at his club Norths, the Wellington Lions, the Hurricanes or the All Blacks, for the opportunities it had given him.

Jerry Collins played in his first New Zealand representative age group team as a schoolboy in 1997 and said it had been a long, hard and enjoyable road ever since.

“It’s really difficult for me to talk about myself but I know I’ve always been totally committed to every minute of every game and that’s the way I want to go out.”

Collins said the decision was prompted by the desire to make a clean and dignified break from the game in this country. He came to a final conclusion during the closing stages of the Super 14 but said he had no overseas contracts to consider and was not rushing to make a decision on future options.

“New Zealand rugby has done a lot for me and I really do appreciate the way this has been worked out.”

He went on to say his only immediate priority was to have a well earned break from the game.

“With me, I’d like to think that what you saw is what you got. I always tried to put as much as I could into every match on the field. I wanted to leave at the right time, and after thinking about things over the past week and then getting through Saturday night’s match, that time is now.”

Jerry Collins played 48 tests for the All Blacks including three as captain; against Argentina in 2006 and Portugal and Romania in 2007. He also played eight seasons with the Hurricanes and amassed 47 provincial caps for Wellington dating back to 1999.

Jerry Collins said he followed a lot of overseas sports and was impressed with the way basketball legend Michael Jordan had managed his own departure from the game.

“Jordan said he only ever tried to be the best player he could be and he had a great time doing it. As far as rugby’s concerned, that’s the way I’ve tried to do things as well.”

The Wellington Rugby Union, the Hurricanes franchise and the New Zealand Rugby Union are all available for comment on Jerry Collins’ departure, which is made with the best wishes of All Blacks coach Graham Henry, NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs and NZRU CEO Steve Tew.

 

[skywalker]

dat means jerome kaino or liam messam will b the next AB no6

 

[rukshankb]

oh sad news ne. my favorite all blacks player.. aparade all blacks captain wela godak kal inna thibba

 

[DANEWMEN]

tks for the info....!

 

[skywalker]

Player:Liam Messam
Position:Loose forward
Born:25/03/1984 Blenheim
Physical:1.90m; 108kg
Tests:0
Test Points:0
Province:Waikato
Super 14 Team:Chiefs​

Liam Messam is in his second year with New Zealand Maori after last year playing for the side in the Churchill Cup, later being named the Player of the Tournament.

Messam is one of the game’s most versatile players and promising loose forwards. In 2004, at the age of just 20, he captained the New Zealand Sevens team to its fifth IRB Sevens title and in 2005 led the team to the final of the IRB Sevens World Cup tournament. In 2006 he was part of the gold medal winning Sevens team at the Melbourne Commonwealth games.

Messam topped off a great year by making his Rebel Sport Super 14 debut for the Chiefs in 2006. In 2007 he was one of the standout players for the franchise.

Player:Jerome Kaino
Position:No 6
Born:06/04/1983 American Samoa
Physical:1.96m, 105kg
Tests:2
Test Points:0
Province:Auckland
Super 14 Team:Blues
​

After playing at centre and fullback as a teenager, Jerome Kaino has developed into one of New Zealand’s most promising young loose forwards.

He finished the 2007 Rebel Sport Super 14 round-robin as the only New Zealand forward to play every minute.

Kaino played for the Junior All Blacks in 2005 and was again chosen for the side in 2007.

The Auckland and Blues blindside flanker has the athleticism to dominate in open play and the size to cover locking duties. “Lome” missed selection in the 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14 due to a shoulder injury, but recovered in time to play the last four games of the season.

He attended the same high school in Auckland, St Kentigern’s, as flying wing Joe Rokocoko.

NZRU Annual Awards
Age Grade Player of the Year, 2004

 

[ereshthush]

tks for the info....!

 

[niroshan84515]

thx 4 d info

 

[skywalker]