Jerry Collins si ritira, contento senza lavoro

[Pukana]

Jerry Collins calls it a day
4:00PM Monday May 26, 2008

All Blacks and Wellington stalwart Jerry Collins has announced his retirement from rugby in New Zealand.

Collins says the time was right to move on.

"Actually from today, I am unemployed," Collins, 27, told a press conference at New Zealand Rugby Union headquarters in Wellington today.

His future plans remain a mystery, perhaps even to him.

The All Blacks and Hurricanes blindside flanker's last act was to plonk over a last minute conversion in the Hurricanes' Super 14 semifinal defeat by the Crusaders on Saturday.

Collins was contracted to the end of next year but with NZRU and Wellington union support, managed to achieve the "dignified exit" he desired.

He also pointed out that a player could not negotiate with other (overseas) clubs while contracted to the NZRU.

"This is something that I have thought about for a while.

"I have played 10 years in one province, it's a hard place to leave having earned my bread here.

"But it's something everybody goes through - you sit at your desk and wonder could I be somewhere else but those thoughts pass and you never change.

"I've just decided that it is probably the right time for me to bow out and I didn't make lightly. It is something I am happy with."

He said the passion for the All Blacks and the Hurricanes still burned but "it was the time in between" that had led him to his decision.

"I suppose I do the majority of my thinking when I am not in camp," he said.

Collins heads to London this weekend to play for the Barbarians against England but intends to come home to play club rugby for his beloved Norths team from Porirua while he mulls things over.

Collins, who captained the All Blacks three times in the course of his 48-cap career which began in 2001 against Argentina, said he made his decision in the closing stages of the Super 14 despite not having any overseas contracts to consider.

He was not in a hurry to make a decision though it might mean having to get a job for a couple of months.

"I am not in any rush to get out of the country."

NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs warmly praised Collins for his contribution to New Zealand rugby for the past 10 years.

"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."

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said Collins impressed most by the way he worked at other aspects of his play and developed into a far more complete player.

All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen said Collins had always been his own man and done things his own way, and that way had served the All Blacks well over the last seven years.

Collins has played 47 times for the Hurricanes and coach Colin Cooper said he had put his body on the line without a complaint.

"Whatever he chooses to do in the future, I'm sure he will be successful, as he has so much ability and the determination to work hard and get results."

Collins is the 10th All Black since last year's World Cup to call time as an international.

Aaron Mauger, Chris Jack, Luke McAlister, Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver, Doug Howlett and Byron Kelleher are already playing in Europe while Reuben Thorne is heading to Japan and Nick Evans to England.

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said Collins' decision was no surprise.
"Last time we re-signed Jerry, it took a long conversation to make sure he made the right decision and we always knew there would be a day Jerry would move on." He said the NZRU did not grant early release from contracts as a matter of course but would take each case on its merits.

"It comes at a time when we can least afford to lose experience, it hurts, but coaches will say to you it opens a door for another player."

Collins was confident any player who succeeded him would do as good or better than him in the All Blacks.

- NZPA

[Pakeha_70]

In effetti non poteva scegliere momento migliore.

Lascia la NZ da All Black titolare e ancora abbastanza giovane anche se quest'anno non ha certo disputato la sua miglior stagione.

Ora potrà godersi qualche anno ad alto livello in europa dove la velocità e l'intensità del gioco non è certo paragonabile a quella del S14.

[JerryCollins]

I am not in any rush to get out of the country

sarà vero?

[Samu]

ma insomma, non ho capito, nell'altro thread si parla di ritiro dal rugby giocato, qui si parla di ritiro dalla Nz, per capirsi, che fa la pinta di guinness con le braccia?

[Pukana]

ma insomma, non ho capito, nell'altro thread si parla di ritiro dal rugby giocato, qui si parla di ritiro dalla Nz, per capirsi, che fa la pinta di guinness con le braccia?

nella press conference che ho visto ha semplicemente detto che si ritira dal rugby giocato in nzl. come gia' detto e' possibile che Jerry vada in Inghilterra per stare vicino a suo figlio come fece lo scorso anno a Devon. ha specificato (parole sue) che veramente non ha ne' firmato, ne considerato alcun contratto. in un'intervista del passato Jerry disse che se domani dovesse rimanere senza rugby non sarebbe morto. anzo il suo sogno e' tornare a vivere in Samoa una vita tranquilla con la sua famiglia.

[Pukana]

Collins would not have made All Blacks - Henry
10:35AM Tuesday May 27, 2008

Former All Blacks rugby enforcer Jerry Collins would not have been selected for the upcoming tests against Ireland and England, according to head coach Graham Henry.

Collins yesterday announced his retirement from the sport in New Zealand.

Despite being warmly praised for a decade of sterling service it emerged today the 48-test veteran would not have featured in Henry's 26-man squad to be named in Christchurch on Sunday.

Henry said the 27-year-old's form for the Hurricanes did not warrant his inclusion in the squad to prepare for a one-off test against Ireland in Wellington on June 7 and two subsequent matches after World Cup runnersup England.

Henry agreed with Collins' decision to seek a release from his New Zealand Rugby Union contract a year before it expired in order to take a break from the game.

Collins is expected to ultimately join the exodus to Europe although he insists he currently has no firm plans.

Although a mainstay of the All Blacks in recent years, Henry admitted Collins had initially been overtaken by Crusaders loose forward Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino of the Blues.

"I think it's the correct decision (for Collins to retire)," Henry told Radio Sport today.

"He wouldn't have got in the All Blacks in this first selection anyway.

"His form had wavered and he'd be the first to agree with that.

"I talked to him two weeks ago and said to him that it (blindside) was a very competitive position and that other guys were playing better than he was at the time.

"We watched him play against the Blues for the Hurricanes and the semifinal against the Crusaders last weekend and things didn't change a great deal in that respect.

"He was battling to make the side but I don't think that was part of his decision. I think he made the decision to move on some time ago."

Kaino is among a 25-man training group who met in Auckland today while Otago loose forward Adam Thompson has also been included after a strong campaign with the battling Highlanders.

Read is sure to come into calculations providing he emerges from the Super 14 final against the Waratahs on Saturday unscathed.

All Blacks training squad:
John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Daniel Braid, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Tom Donnelly, Andrew Hore, Richard Kahui, Jerome Kaino, Sione Lauaki, Brendon Leonard, Keven Mealamu, Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu, Kevin O'Neill, John Schwalger, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Rodney So'oialo, Adam Thomson, Neemia Tialata, Anthony Tuitavake, Paul Williams, Tony Woodcock, Rudi Wulf.

- NZPA

[Samu]

ma insomma, non ho capito, nell'altro thread si parla di ritiro dal rugby giocato, qui si parla di ritiro dalla Nz, per capirsi, che fa la pinta di guinness con le braccia?

nella press conference che ho visto ha semplicemente detto che si ritira dal rugby giocato in nzl. come gia' detto e' possibile che Jerry vada in Inghilterra per stare vicino a suo figlio come fece lo scorso anno a Devon. ha specificato (parole sue) che veramente non ha ne' firmato, ne considerato alcun contratto. in un'intervista del passato Jerry disse che se domani dovesse rimanere senza rugby non sarebbe morto. anzo il suo sogno e' tornare a vivere in Samoa una vita tranquilla con la sua famiglia.

ha un figlio in inghilterra?!?

[espy17]

un grande campione in tutti i sensi, un augurio di buona fortuna a lui e ai tutti neri senza di lui.
Mi manchera la "guinnes" che corre in mezzo al campo.
I grandi si riconosco per saper fare anche grandi scelte.
Buona vita

[JerryCollins]

Mi manchera la "guinnes" che corre in mezzo al campo.
I grandi si riconosco per saper fare anche grandi scelte.

parli della scelta dei capelli?

[Samu]

beh, in effetti è stato un grande con quei capelli, per anni ha perseverato con la scelta del "tinto ma biondo" come andava qualche anno fa