Thousands turn out as locals pay tribute to former All Black Jerry Collins

A town remembers its hero

Thousands of friends, fans and mourners turned out in the small town of Porirua this morning to pay tribute to its favourite son, Jerry Collins. The All Black rugby star died, with his wife, in a car accident in France last week, but on the return of his body to New Zealand, hordes of supporters marched through the town before arriving at Norths rugby club, where he made his name, where his former coach led an emotional ceremony to retire Collins' jersey.   https://twitter.com/JohnJCampbell/status/609949300416647168 And the ceremony cleared struck a chord with Collins' former All Black team-mate, Jonah Lomu. https://twitter.com/JONAHTALILOMU/status/609989320607305728 Collins' 10-week old daughter remains in hospital in France but is showing signs of recovery. [h/t Stuff.co.nz]