Jerry Collins' old teammates try to raise funds for baby Ayla

Jerry Collins' daughter Ayla sleeps in her grandmother's lavalava. Photo / Facebook

Four old teammates of Jerry Collins are joining forces to raise funds for his orphaned baby daughter Ayla.

Collins played for Welsh club Ospreys from late 2009 to early 2011.

A group of his friends known to Ospreys fans as the "Fab Four" say they want to help Ayla, orphaned in a June 5 car crash in which Ayla's mum Alana Madill died alongside Collins.

Ayla's health condition has since been precarious. Now 5-months-old, she suffered bleeding on the brain and spent weeks in a French hospital.

She's since returned to her native Canada with Madill's parents and met Collins' parents Frank and Galuia.

Collins was playing in France for Racing Club Narbonne at the time of the crash -- but just a few seasons ago made a big impact in Swansea, the second-biggest city in Wales and home of the Ospreys.

Former Ospreys fullback Lee Byrne, wing Shane Williams, halfback Mike Phillips and centre James Hook were helping organise an event at the city's Liberty Stadium on November 11.

Byrne said the players would sell tickets, have an auction and a raffle to raise funds for whatever Ayla might need in future.

"At this young age you're not sure how much damage has been done until she gets older," he told ITV Cymru Wales News.

Byrne, who attended Collins' funeral in Porirua in June, said Collins was a rugby star not just in New Zealand but "all round the rugby world" and was a generous person.

"I've seen him walk down the street and take his top off and give it to a tramp. That's the kind of guy he was."

"He was a unique character, that's for sure," Williams told the ITV station. "The best Jerry was the Jerry off the field -- a person that would do anything for anyone, and never put himself first really," he added.

"Anything we can do in aiding and helping Ayla in the future, and Jerry's family, we're there for them," he said. "We're trying to raise as much support as we can."

Byrne and Williams urged well-wishers who had any queries about the event to make contact with them directly on Twitter.

Meanwhile, donors had by noon today raised $53,119.27 for Ayla on the Jerry Collins Memorial Fund page on the Givealittle website.

• Donations to the Jerry Collins Memorial Fund can be made on Givealittle