Funeral plans for Collins confirmed

Jerry Collins’ cousin, former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga, will help to bring his body home to New Zealand from France in the next few days before funeral services next week.

New Zealand Rugby released a statement yesterday by Collins’ manager and family spokesman, Tim Castle, with details about the public funeral, which would be held at the Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Wednesday and would start at 10am.

Collins’ body would be brought home to New Zealand over the next few days by a small group of close friends, including Umaga, who was based in Italy, former All Black Chris Masoe and his wife Gemma, who were also living in France, and Stevenson Malotu’upule.

Castle said Collins’ family would look after his body before Wednesday’s funeral. The family had requested privacy from the public and media around Collins’ return to New Zealand.

After Wednesday’s funeral service, Collins would be buried in a ceremony for extended family and friends.

“The family knows that Jerry was loved and admired by the people of his hometown of Porirua and beyond. He was one of them and played a big role in the community. The family understands and knows very well that many people want to join them in paying tribute and showing their love and respect for him,” Castle said.

The family also wanted to acknowledge Porirua City Council who had provided “invaluable assistance” in helping organise the funeral, including making Te Rauparaha Arena available for it, he said.

“The Porirua and Wellington communities - as well as people from all around New Zealand and overseas - have rallied around the family as they go through this difficult time and they again would like to pass on their heartfelt thanks for that support. It has given them great comfort.”

A separate private family funeral would be held on Monday at Collins’ former rugby club in Porirua, Northern United Rugby Football Club, were his stellar rugby career began, according to Samoan Wellington Rugby Union board member Rob Nero.

Collins, 34, and his Canadian partner, Alana Madill, 35, died instantly in a car crash in southern France a week ago when their car collided with a bus on a motorway on their way home from a rugby gala. Their baby daughter, Ayla, was plucked from the wreckage and airlifted to a hospital in Montpellier. The 11-week-old infant remained in a critical condition.

Madill’s parents, Darrell and Ruth Madill, and her sister, Brenna, were in France to organise Alana Madill’s funeral and were also keeping vigil at the hospital with baby Ayla.

Her family placed an obituary notice about Madill in Canadian online newspaper The Regina Leader-Post, which was published on Thursday.

It said Madill grew up throughout Canada. While living in Grande Prairie, Alberta, she met and captured Collins’ heart, and he hers.

“Alana told Ruth and Darrell that she had met her match and on March 26, 2015, Alana and Jerry’s true inspiration was born, Ayla. Motherhood became Alana and it was a true wonderment to watch Alana with Ayla. The family of three was perfect.”

It described Madill as “a free spirit because of her calmness, huge heart, and ability to pick up and travel or move anywhere with a huge smile;

she was always up for an adventure”.

“Alana loved her family and friends with all her being, especially her nephew Jaydon and nieces Danika and Daya who cherished each and every visit with their Auntie Yaya. They will forever miss her.” Madill’s funeral service would be held at a later date because Ayla remained hospitalised and receiving care in France, it said. In lieu of flowers, it said family and friends could make donations in memory of the couple to a trust fund set up for Ayla c/o BMO Albert Street North, Regina, SK, Account #06758-001-3953-962.

The Jerry Collins Memorial Fund on the givealittle website in New Zealand had raised more than $32,000 for baby Ayla by Friday morning.