LONDON, (STUFF NZ) – Former All Blacks and overseas-based New Zealand players will honour the late Jerry Collins in a match against European champions Toulon.
They will don the jersey of the Classic All Blacks and take on the French giants in Toulon on Thursday.
Former All Blacks captain Collins and his wife Alana were killed in a car crash in France in June. Their young daughter Ayla survived but is receiving ongoing medical treatment in the care of Alana’s family in Canada.
All proceeds from the game will go to the Jerry Collins Memorial Fund.
Many of the players involved in both sides are former team-mates of Collins.
Collins played 22 games for Toulon from 2008-09 after his 48-test career with the All Blacks finished at the 2007 World Cup.
Toulon owner and president Mourad Boudjellal said the whole region was proud to welcome the Classic All Blacks to Stade Mayol.
Boudjellal said they were looking forward to the chance to remember Collins.
“I am sure the [Classic] All Blacks haka on this day will remember Jerry Collins with great emotion and so will we. Fans from around the world will witness two heavyweight rugby institutions competing against one another in the heart of Toulon.”
The Classic All Blacks will be drawn from: Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Carlos Spencer, Adam Thomson, Carl Hayman, Justin Marshall, Anthony Tuitavake, Ben Atiga, Chris Masoe, Jason Eaton, Kevin Senio, Rudi Wulf, Saimone Taumoepeau,Troy Flavell, David Smith, Kendrick Lynn, Orene Ai’i, Stephen Brett, John Afoa, Corey Flynn, Daniel Braid, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sam Tuitoupou, Neemia Tialata, Nick Evans, Tom Donnelly, Mike Delaney, Luke McAlister, Richard Kahui and Mils Muliaina…
