Rugby legend comes home to ground that launched career

The waiting masses watched reverently as ex-All Black Jerry Collins - the son of Porirua - was carried out on to the pitch at his home ground for the final time last night.

The coffin holding Collins' body was carried on to the Norths Rugby Football Club by a procession led by his father Frank.

Hundreds of people, largely wearing the Norths' colours of blue and white, lined the driveway. They fell silent as the hearse arrived.

A traditional Maori welcome and a stirring haka met the coffin, performed by students from four Porirua colleges.

Youngsters from the rugby club formed a guard of honour.

As the coffin was carried up the driveway an emotional haka was performed by a mass of Norths players.

Family members had come from a private funeral and were largely dressed in black, including one group wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Collins' face and the words "Legends never die".

A private ceremony was held inside the clubrooms for family, friends and former teammates, including Tana Umaga and Piri Weepu, to celebrate his life.

The rugby great was then carried out on to the Porirua Park pitch for one final time.

Collins began his rugby career at Norths before rising to All Black fame.

A public memorial service is planned at Te Rauparaha Arena on Wednesday.

Collins' body arrived in New Zealand on Sunday, more than a week after he died in a car crash in France with partner Alana Madill.

The couple's baby daughter Ayla remains seriously ill in a French hospital. A fundraising page set up in her name has reached almost $40,000 so far.