Jerry Collins leaves Ospreys for Top League contract

[Draggs]

Rich Freeman / Daily Yomiuri Sportswriter

The Top League got itself another big name Monday with the announcement that Jerry Collins was joining Yamaha Jubilo.

"I look forward to playing for Yamaha and in Japan," Collins said in a statement released by the club.

"I also hope to be active in keeping in touch with the local community."

The 30-year-old former All Black left the Hurricanes in 2008 and spent a season with Toulon before moving to the Swansea-based Ospreys.

He played 48 times for New Zealand and became the All Blacks' 61st captain when he led them in a one-off test against Argentina in 2006.

Collins, who is a cousin of former All Black captain Tana Umaga, joins a side that will be coached by Katsu-yuki Kiyomiya and that contains another former All Black in No. 8 Mose Tuiali'i.

Collins' first game in Japan could well be as part of a Top League All-Stars XV.

As reported in The Daily Yomiuri last week, there are plans for Japan to take on a side made up of foreigners plying their trade in Japan in either the first or second week in June.

The game would give John Kirwan's side a decent runout before the Pacific Nations Cup in July and more importantly would serve as a fund-raiser for victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

In past years, Japan has played the Classic All Blacks as a way of bridging the gap between the Asian Five Nations and the much tougher PNC.

However, the continuing problems associated with the quake and the ongoing nuclear crisis means attempts to get an international team to travel to Japan have fallen on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, another former Hurricanes flanker, Ben Herring, is also heading to Japan. The 31-year-old is the new forwards coach at NEC Green Rockets, having previously played and coached with Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership.

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[TRF_Cymro]

On the cards as we all knew. Thought Tokyo was his destination mind.

 

[Draggs]

Yeah, its been rumoured for a while.
Bearman and Stowers' signings make sense.
Does Stowers play blindside?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Ye 6 / 8 I thought could be wrong.

 

[Draggs]

I thought so, just unsure where he is better.
Bearman has performed better at 8 than blindside, while JT should be no where near the 22. (Yet he always finds a way)

 

[dullonien]

Collins was awesome last season for the O's. Hasn't been great this season, although he's been shifted between 6 and 8 quite a bit. He was rubbish against the Dragons on the weekend, where he was totally outplayed by the 20 y/o Faletau, even though he was behind a dominant scrum. Overall, I think it's best for everyone that he's moving on, and I don't think he's gonna be a massive loss considering the quality coming in to replace him.

 

[munstermuffin]

He's only 30. Thought he was alot more.

 

[Teh Mite]

Same here, I guessed he'd be about 33-34 by now. Seems like he's been around for an eternity.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Honestly thought he would go back to NZ rather than Japan but there we are.

 

[munstermuffin]

Likewise Bullit I was sure he left New Zealand around the 30's mark but what is money like in Japan compared to NH

 

[Teh Mite]

Japan is NH!

Money there is probably about the same as in the UK but the standard there is ridiculously low. Anglo-Irish cup levels for £50-100k per year sort of thing.

 

[TVH11]

well i guess if you can earn the same money, but not feel so beat up the morning after the match, then go for it. For someone like Collins, he has nothing more to prove really. When you have near 50 caps for the Allblacks, the only other thing you can do is win the world cup with em - but we wont mention that

To be fair Jerry has been a good buy for the O's, he's put bums on seats and very entertaining to watch. Okay, we know he's not at his best these days but im sure he's had a great influence on the younger home grown guys And also the guy is an unit, saw him down at the Gnoll watching the crusaders once, I've never seen a human being with biceps as big as his. Sad to see him leave, but hopefully it'll give some homegrown guys a chance to develop (saying that we've signed two back-rows already and they aren't exactly "homegrown"). Good luck to him in Japan

 

[nickdnz]

Makes sense for him to leave. The Osprays don't need him anymore, and they're better off developing new talent (although I thought he did pretty well with them). The good thing is, moving to Japan means he can still make a lot of money, without putting his body through the horror of top level rugby. I can see him doing some real damage in Japan though, he'll be like frick'n Godzilla

 

[munstermuffin]

Japan is in NH now you learn something new every day
Cheers Bullitt

 

[Amobokoboko]

Pity he's not heading back to NZ.