Player bios
-
Is a page on FB that I happened across, has some great content on players.
One i saw today is on Jerry.
Collins’ story begins far from the bright lights of international rugby stadiums, in the sun-drenched streets of Apia, Samoa. But it was in Porirua, on New Zealand’s North Island, where he truly grew up—where the boy with an unmistakable spark honed the skills that would one day dazzle the rugby world. At St. Patrick’s College in Wellington, he dominated the 1st XV side for three consecutive seasons, catching the eyes of selectors and carving out a path that few could imagine. By 1996, 1997, and 1998, Collins was already on New Zealand Secondary Schools’ radar, and in 1999, he announced himself on the global stage: Player of the Tournament at the World Junior Championships, leading New Zealand’s Under-19s to victory and setting the stage for something even bigger. A few years later, in 2001, he would become the first from that golden junior squad to don the black jersey of the All Blacks.
His professional journey began with Wellington in the NPC in 1999, and by 2001, he was making waves with the Hurricanes in Super Rugby. Over the next seven years, Collins became a mainstay, clocking 74 appearances, including the heartbreak and glory of the 2006 final against the Crusaders at AMI Stadium. But it was on the international stage where he left an indelible mark. From his debut for the All Blacks in 2001, he went on to play 48 tests, crossing the try line five times. In June 2006, he captained New Zealand in a tense one-off match against Argentina in Buenos Aires, leading the team to a hard-fought 25–19 victory and earning the distinction of becoming the 61st captain of the All Blacks. He would also step in for Richie McCaw as captain during the 2007 Rugby World Cup matches against Portugal and Romania—a testament to the respect he commanded in the squad.
Collins hung up his international boots in May 2008, but the game had not finished with him yet. Not long after, he appeared in a local rugby league match under a pseudonym—a cheeky nod to his love for the sport, though the team did get fined. His passion for rugby remained insatiable. In 2007, following New Zealand’s World Cup exit, he was on vacation in Devon when Barnstaple’s head coach Kevin Squire spotted him. What began as a casual visit quickly turned into an unforgettable weekend: Collins ran a junior coaching session, politely declined any form of repayment, and instead asked simply to play rugby. The following Saturday, he lined up for Barnstaple’s 2nd XV against Newton Abbot, leaving his mark not just as a player, but as someone who still loved the game for its pure, unglamorous joy. A few weeks later, he even wore Barnstaple socks in a match for the Barbarians—small, whimsical details that hinted at his humility and love for rugby beyond fame or accolades.
His club career continued across continents. After leaving the Hurricanes, Collins joined Toulon for the 2008–09 season, linking up with Sonny Bill Williams in the club’s ambitious recruitment drive. In May 2009, he signed a two-year deal with Wales’ Ospreys, where he was named Players’ Player of the Year for the 2009/10 season—a nod to the respect and admiration he inspired in his teammates. He then ventured to Japan, joining Yamaha Júbilo in the Top League in 2011, before returning briefly for the classic All Blacks against Fiji in 2013. After taking a sabbatical in 2014, Collins returned to France in 2015 as a Medical Joker for Racing Club Narbonne, stepping in as injury cover for Rocky Elsom.
Through every stop, every country, every club and test match, Collins carried with him the same fierce dedication, the same love for the game that had first lit up a school field in Wellington. His story isn’t just about caps, tries, or trophies—it’s about a man who lived rugby in every heartbeat, who found joy in coaching, camaraderie, and the small, unexpected moments that make the sport worth everything.
-
God i miss Jerry, one of my all time favourites. Such a humble dude as well. Legend.
-
@mariner4life yea I cant recall where I read it, but was a story of him wanting to watch rugby in a pub, but they only had a tiny little screen, so he went off and bought a TV, watched it in the pub and left it for them.
-
Jerrry was a fixture of Wellington nightlife back in the early 2000s. Will never forget after a test at the Caketin against the Boks ( or maybe a Canes/Stormers game ? It was awhile ago and I drunk much more in those days ) seeing him and Schalk Burger laughing over a couple of beers at the Tasting Room. Literally only a couple of hours after bashing the shit out of eachother.
Everyone loved JC without fail. Even those that got smashed by him.
Was he better than Kaino ? The heart says well and truly, the head is much closer…….
What we’d give for either of them today.
RIP JC
-
@MN5 said in Player bios:
Jerrry was a fixture of Wellington nightlife back in the early 2000s. Will never forget after a test at the Caketin against the Boks ( or maybe a Canes/Stormers game ? It was awhile ago and I drunk much more in those days ) seeing him and Schalk Burger laughing over a couple of beers at the Tasting Room. Literally only a couple of hours after bashing the shit out of eachother.
Everyone loved JC without fail. Even those that got smashed by him.
Was he better than Kaino ? The heart says well and truly, the head is much closer…….
What we’d give for either of them today.
RIP JC
I don't want to reign on the congratulatory parade, I love JC, but Kaino was much better, my head and heart are in easy agreement. But, agree would give anything to have him today.
I had a friend who was not a rugby fan, and for some reason we were in a foodcourt in Porirua (I think she was living in Titahi Bay), and she quickly gets up and says hey I know someone over there, I'm going to talk with him. So I'm sitting there eating my kai for about 5 minutes while she chats with JC.
She comes back and I ask how she knows him. She didn't, she just recognised his face because he's JC. I then asked what the hell they talked about and she said after she clicked she didn't know him he just chatted with her the rest of the time asking questions about her life etc.
My hatred of Mitchell was already confirmed, but him sending young JC out to face the press after the loss to Aussie confirms I was 100% correct at recognising his twatness.
-
@Nepia said in Player bios:
@MN5 said in Player bios:
Jerrry was a fixture of Wellington nightlife back in the early 2000s. Will never forget after a test at the Caketin against the Boks ( or maybe a Canes/Stormers game ? It was awhile ago and I drunk much more in those days ) seeing him and Schalk Burger laughing over a couple of beers at the Tasting Room. Literally only a couple of hours after bashing the shit out of eachother.
Everyone loved JC without fail. Even those that got smashed by him.
Was he better than Kaino ? The heart says well and truly, the head is much closer…….
What we’d give for either of them today.
RIP JC
I don't want to reign on the congratulatory parade, I love JC, but Kaino was much better, my head and heart are in easy agreement. But, agree would give anything to have him today.
I had a friend who was not a rugby fan, and for some reason we were in a foodcourt in Porirua (I think she was living in Titahi Bay), and she quickly gets up and says hey I know someone over there, I'm going to talk with him. So I'm sitting there eating my kai for about 5 minutes while she chats with JC.
She comes back and I ask how she knows him. She didn't, she just recognised his face because he's JC. I then asked what the hell they talked about and she said after she clicked she didn't know him he just chatted with her the rest of the time asking questions about her life etc.
My hatred of Mitchell was already confirmed, but him sending young JC out to face the press after the loss to Aussie confirms I was 100% correct at recognising his twatness.
Good post, but MUCH better ? At their respective bests there wasn’t much in it.
Choosing who to get tackled by is the old ‘which end of a piece of dog shit would you rather pick up’ analogy.
Kaino maybe more rounded but JC arguably the bigger hitter.
-
@MN5 said in Player bios:
@Nepia said in Player bios:
@MN5 said in Player bios:
Jerrry was a fixture of Wellington nightlife back in the early 2000s. Will never forget after a test at the Caketin against the Boks ( or maybe a Canes/Stormers game ? It was awhile ago and I drunk much more in those days ) seeing him and Schalk Burger laughing over a couple of beers at the Tasting Room. Literally only a couple of hours after bashing the shit out of eachother.
Everyone loved JC without fail. Even those that got smashed by him.
Was he better than Kaino ? The heart says well and truly, the head is much closer…….
What we’d give for either of them today.
RIP JC
I don't want to reign on the congratulatory parade, I love JC, but Kaino was much better, my head and heart are in easy agreement. But, agree would give anything to have him today.
I had a friend who was not a rugby fan, and for some reason we were in a foodcourt in Porirua (I think she was living in Titahi Bay), and she quickly gets up and says hey I know someone over there, I'm going to talk with him. So I'm sitting there eating my kai for about 5 minutes while she chats with JC.
She comes back and I ask how she knows him. She didn't, she just recognised his face because he's JC. I then asked what the hell they talked about and she said after she clicked she didn't know him he just chatted with her the rest of the time asking questions about her life etc.
My hatred of Mitchell was already confirmed, but him sending young JC out to face the press after the loss to Aussie confirms I was 100% correct at recognising his twatness.
Good post, but MUCH better ? At their respective bests there wasn’t much in it.
Choosing who to get tackled by is the old ‘which end of a piece of dog shit would you rather pick up’ analogy.
Kaino maybe more rounded but JC arguably the bigger hitter.
Well I didn't say he was capitalised "much" better.
But Kaino was a level above for me, but I'm not going to fight anyone if they rate JC closer as I loved him as a player.
And 100% agree on not wanting to be hit by either. I reckon JC was a more consistent harder hitter than Kaino.
-
@Nepia said in Player bios:
@MN5 said in Player bios:
@Nepia said in Player bios:
@MN5 said in Player bios:
Jerrry was a fixture of Wellington nightlife back in the early 2000s. Will never forget after a test at the Caketin against the Boks ( or maybe a Canes/Stormers game ? It was awhile ago and I drunk much more in those days ) seeing him and Schalk Burger laughing over a couple of beers at the Tasting Room. Literally only a couple of hours after bashing the shit out of eachother.
Everyone loved JC without fail. Even those that got smashed by him.
Was he better than Kaino ? The heart says well and truly, the head is much closer…….
What we’d give for either of them today.
RIP JC
I don't want to reign on the congratulatory parade, I love JC, but Kaino was much better, my head and heart are in easy agreement. But, agree would give anything to have him today.
I had a friend who was not a rugby fan, and for some reason we were in a foodcourt in Porirua (I think she was living in Titahi Bay), and she quickly gets up and says hey I know someone over there, I'm going to talk with him. So I'm sitting there eating my kai for about 5 minutes while she chats with JC.
She comes back and I ask how she knows him. She didn't, she just recognised his face because he's JC. I then asked what the hell they talked about and she said after she clicked she didn't know him he just chatted with her the rest of the time asking questions about her life etc.
My hatred of Mitchell was already confirmed, but him sending young JC out to face the press after the loss to Aussie confirms I was 100% correct at recognising his twatness.
Good post, but MUCH better ? At their respective bests there wasn’t much in it.
Choosing who to get tackled by is the old ‘which end of a piece of dog shit would you rather pick up’ analogy.
Kaino maybe more rounded but JC arguably the bigger hitter.
Well I didn't say he was capitalised "much" better.
But Kaino was a level above for me, but I'm not going to fight anyone if they rate JC closer as I loved him as a player.
And 100% agree on not wanting to be hit by either. I reckon JC was a more consistent harder hitter than Kaino.
Kaino maybe better with ball in hand, definitely better in the lineout.
JC 100% more of a cult hero than Kaino will ever be.
None have come even close to either since and it's been years.
-
Yeah JC was great and he'd walk into the current starting XV and rack up 50+ tests given his current competition.
He wasn't quite on the same tier as Kaino though for me.
With Read being a dominant lineout target, with Whitelock and Retallick maybe JC could have been just as effective as Kaino if he played with those guys? We will never know. JC just didn't have that calibre of lineout operator in his team when he was playing. Chris Jack was pretty good but not on the same level as those guys.
Would we still have won those two world cups if peak JC replaced Kaino? Probably.
-
Aside from Cully, JC will always be my second favourite Hurricane. An absolute brute on the field but such a humble and class act off it.
If anyone hasn't listened to the story below, it really does sum up the man. RIP JC.
-
@Canes4life said in Player bios:
Aside from Cully, JC will always be my second favourite Hurricane. An absolute brute on the field but such a humble and class act off it.
If anyone hasn't listened to the story below, it really does sum up the man. RIP JC.
Like I said earlier I saw him loads of times on the piss in Welly, always looking like he was having a great time and always friendly. I spoke to him briefly once or twice. Nice fella.
A guy I know who knew him quite well said he'd often go to the gym at 3/4am after a night on the hammer and sweat out the booze by hitting the heavy bag. From what I remember he always appeared in peak physical condition so it obviously worked for him.
-
Kaino v JC is an interesting comparison, i think a little difficult given rugby changed a lot between their eras.
Both could hit.
Memory says JC was better with the ball, but Kaino had pretty good hands as well as a good carry. JK version 1 was nimble on his feet though (remember him embarrassing Mat Rogers in that Baabaas game?). JK version 2 was a truck.I would give it to JK as he was a bit more accurate and an excellent lineout forward. But there's not much in it, and shit imagine having both in a test 23.
I re
-
@mariner4life yeah not much in it for me. Kaino’s lineout work was excellent and part of a very successful AB lineout period, but Jerry was also used at the back of the lineout to great effect for both the Canes and ABs.
Ball in hand in close exchanges, Jerry would just bury his shoulder into would be tacklers ribs.. Had very good body height. Jerry also developed that step whereas I remember JK 1 having more a swerve.
On the defensive side both very good. Ruck work they had different strengths. I would say Jerry went harder for the ball than Kaino but Kaino would drive through the ruck.
In terms of them playing together, it’s crazy that they never featured in the same 22/23. There were certainly opportunities before Jerry stopped internationals after the 07 RWC. Kaino featured in the Ireland tests in 06 that Jerry didn’t play in. Jerry came back after those tests for the Argies test and then the 06 3Ns. We didn’t see Kaino in black again until 2008.
-
Christian Cullen’s story in New Zealand rugby doesn’t begin with fanfare or fireworks—it begins quietly, in 1994, with Horowhenua-Kapiti. A wiry kid with speed that looked almost supernatural, he was the kind of player who didn’t just run past defenders; he seemed to glide through them, like water around stones. By 1996, that blur of movement had found its stage. The first-ever Super 12 game—Hurricanes versus Blues—opened a new chapter in professional rugby, and Cullen, just 20, was right there at the dawn of it all. That season he scored seven tries in nine matches. People were starting to whisper his name with a kind of disbelief, as if they’d stumbled upon a secret the rest of the world hadn’t yet noticed.
Then came Hong Kong. The 1996 World Sevens tournament was supposed to be a showcase of flair; instead, it became the Christian Cullen show. Eighteen tries in one competition—seven in a single game. The crowd roared every time he touched the ball, sensing that something electric was about to happen. That same year, the All Black selectors couldn’t ignore him any longer. On debut against Samoa, Cullen scored a hat-trick. The next Test, against Scotland, he added four more. Seven tries in two matches—numbers that didn’t just impress, they stunned. But rugby has a cruel balance to brilliance, and on the tour to South Africa later that year, his knee gave way. Cartilage damage. For a moment, everything he’d built teetered.
When he returned in 1997, he did it with quiet vengeance. Eleven tries in ten games for the Hurricanes, and twelve in twelve Tests for the All Blacks. Every step looked like it had meaning again. Yet even a player as mesmerizing as Cullen couldn’t lift a struggling side forever. In 1998, New Zealand endured five straight defeats—a dark stretch for the team—but Cullen still crossed the line four times in seven Tests. Then came redemption of a different kind. At the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, wearing the black jersey for rugby sevens, Cullen scored nine tries, kicked 23 conversions, and walked away with a gold medal. You could almost feel the pride pulsing through New Zealand that day.
But rugby, like life, doesn’t freeze in its golden moments. The 1999 World Cup should’ve been Cullen’s stage. Instead, it was a frustrating campaign—six matches, five of them out of position at centre. The tournament ended in disappointment, both for the All Blacks and for a player who felt boxed in by tactical choices that dulled his brilliance. By 2000, though, he was flying again—ten tries in eleven Super 12 games, seven in four Tri Nations Tests, including three consecutive doubles. He was unstoppable, the kind of player who could make a stadium inhale all at once when the ball reached his hands.
Then came the knee again. In 2001, it betrayed him. Surgery, long days of rehab, and the lonely grind of recovery followed. Cullen stepped away from the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour to focus on healing, only to hear at a press conference that he had been “dropped” by new coach John Mitchell. Their relationship never recovered. The tension lingered, shaping the twilight of Cullen’s international career. In 2002 he was in and out of the squad, a star dimmed but not gone. Four tries in five Tests reminded everyone just how dangerous he still was.
By 2003, he was chasing something simpler—joy. Eight tries in twelve games for the Hurricanes took his Super Rugby tally to a then-record 56. For a brief, strange moment, he was even named to the Māori rugby team—despite having, as his father admitted, barely a trace of Māori ancestry. It caused a stir, but Cullen stayed composed, as always. That same year, he missed out on the World Cup squad. Wellington fans gave him one last ovation during the NPC final, standing to their feet as he walked off. They knew, and he knew, that this was the end of something special.
Christian Cullen’s career was never just about numbers—it was about feeling. The quicksilver runs, the sense of anticipation every time he stepped onto the field, the way he made rugby look like art. Injuries came, critics circled, selections stung—but when you close your eyes and think of him, you don’t remember the setbacks. You remember the blur of motion, the sudden gasp of the crowd, and the unmistakable magic of the “Paekākāriki Express.” #ChristianCullen #AllBlacks #RugbyLegend #PaekakarikiExpress
-
-
I'll just jump on and join the Cullen echo chamber. Incredible and very HUMBLE player especially compared to the way Jeff Wilson sometimes carried on.
He was like a cat in that he looked half asleep and then BOOM, sprang into ridiculously athletic action. That swerve in open spaces must have been a nightmare for defenders.
These (obviously AI written
) bios make me realise how much more I loved players back in the day than I do now. Better players ? bigger characters ? or have I just grown up a bit ? -
@MN5 said in Player bios:
I'll just jump on and join the Cullen echo chamber. Incredible and very HUMBLE player especially compared to the way Jeff Wilson sometimes carried on.
He was like a cat in that he looked half asleep and then BOOM, sprang into ridiculously athletic action. That swerve in open spaces must have been a nightmare for defenders.
These (obviously AI written
) bios make me realise how much more I loved players back in the day than I do now. Better players ? bigger characters ? or have I just grown up a bit ?I think it highlights how things have changed how the game has changed.
Along with Cullen there was also Carlos Spencer cut from the same fabric. Mercurial in their approach and insanely talented.
With every second of a players time on a field analyzed, tracked and picked apart by coaches and opponents i think its harder for them to play the way guys like Cullen, Spencer and others did back in the 90's and early 2000's. -
@Virgil said in Player bios:
@MN5 said in Player bios:
I'll just jump on and join the Cullen echo chamber. Incredible and very HUMBLE player especially compared to the way Jeff Wilson sometimes carried on.
He was like a cat in that he looked half asleep and then BOOM, sprang into ridiculously athletic action. That swerve in open spaces must have been a nightmare for defenders.
These (obviously AI written
) bios make me realise how much more I loved players back in the day than I do now. Better players ? bigger characters ? or have I just grown up a bit ?I think it highlights how things have changed how the game has changed.
Along with Cullen there was also Carlos Spencer cut from the same fabric. Mercurial in their approach and insanely talented.
With every second of a players time on a field analyzed, tracked and picked apart by coaches and opponents i think its harder for them to play the way guys like Cullen, Spencer and others did back in the 90's and early 2000's.Theres still room for mavericks. Finn Russell is cut from that Spencer cloth ( still feels weird writing this about a Scotsman ) Beauden Barrett when he still had pace ?
Jonah and Cully would still carve up today, maybe to a slightly lesser extent. Jeff Wilson with his kicking game might be even more of a force in todays game than he was in his playing days. Joeli Vidiri if he'd qualified earlier and with rotation would have played a heap more tests than he did.......
