Jerry Collins shock retirement from NZ rugby

Stev_o

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7419984.stm

Didnt expect this

jimboddb

I heard that munster were sniffing around him

Sherifu

Wow. Only 27.

zAbbo

He's only retired from NZ rugby, expect him to end up in England pretty soon.

nc6000

Correct, he has only retired from rugby in NZ. We'll see him over this way next season. He has been linked with Leinster & Munster. I don't think he has had a very good season.

zAbbo

Doesn't his kid live in England, seems the most logical place for him to end up, he had an extended stay over there after the RWC.

He's coming off a poor season by his own high standards.

Stev_o

here is the interview

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=QhxtA-vf8LQ

[Jackass]

Yeah, this is good news imo, he's definitley making a move...race is on for his signature now though!! I'd imagine he wouldn't have done it so publicly unless he had something lined up in the background somewhere...probably England, possibly Munster, hopefully Leinster.

Pinetree Boy

A goog buy for anyone.Plenty of years left and he has an attitude that is missing from a lot of prima donnas. Remember after WRC when he turned out in a club game in England(?).

Henry has confirmed that he had told Collins would not be selected for Irish test.

Goodluck2me

heard munster were after him, but leinster would be pretty formidable with him.

il gatto

I'm not one for crying about where our own players will play top class rugby, but I actually hope he doesn't come to an Irish province. It's great having the likes of Contepomi and Howlett et al, but I think it's just at an acceptable level at the moment.
I read an interview in the NZ Herald and he said he had no plans, but that's BS. He'll be here (NH) by the end of the summer.

toomevara

Gerry'll be over here to play for the Baa-baas,using it as a shop window, word is a couple of GP clubs are sniffing round already,he'll not be idle for long...would agree with sentiments expressed re: overseas players, 3-4 max on provincial teams or else were fundamentally endangering the development of the game here..

although the international game used to be the great advertisement for rugby in Ireland but it seems that the provinces are the only game in town at the moment...

Boots09

Whoever gets him he could be a great signing but as others have said wouldnt like to see him harming irish players development but having said that if he can be brought to an Irish team without this happenin could be a great addition to Munster or Leinster!

Stev_o

Chances are he'll go to a GP club he seems to like England.

Oafley Jones

Heard a rumour that the deal is all but done with Munster. It will be interesting to see if Dougie is in Cork this evening, he may have other work to do with the club as it were. We'll see in a few hours how that turns out.

Ekels

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Heard a rumour that the deal is all but done with Munster. It will be interesting to see if Dougie is in Cork this evening, he may have other work to do with the club as it were. We'll see in a few hours how that turns out.

Reliable source?

Munster are in dire need of a quality number 8. Leamy's clearly better at 6 and neither Wallace nor Quinlan will be around for much longer.

27 is amazing though. I got shocked today when I read that baldy Rory Best was 25.

Oilrig

No deal done, rumour mill in overdrive as usual.

JC is taking a break, Munster have confirmed that they are aware but have not had contact.

JC may decide to toss the whole lot in and make wine.

He will make his own mind up in due course.

If he does return to the pitch, if he wants money he'll go to France, if he wants Glory he'll go to Munster, if he wants something in between and access to his kids he'll go to England - probably a southern club.

The subtext here is that if he goes anywhere else other than Munster, then his motivation is not rugby. ie he's vulnerable heh heh

zAbbo

Thats a slightly romantic view of the lure of Munster.

Joining a top French or English team would have as good a chance if not more than Munster of winning trophies.

To say that if he goes anywhere other than Munster, that his motivation is not Rugby is incredible statement to make!

Munster are an aging team, with no evident replacements in key positions like Prop / Back Row / FH - add the fact that they don't have a coach, and could possibly end up with Bradley hardly makes them an amazing prospect to a player who could basically pick any club in the World to join.

It would a crying shame if Collins ends up in Ireland, it's bad enough Munster fielding 3 kiwi's, and Leinster with a foreign prop farm...

Stev_o

Barnstable 1st's is it then =P

He's in need of a rest he hasnt looked right since the RWC started in fact it looked like he took the loss the least personal.

Crash

And yet he played amazing rugby on the part of the barbarians in twickenham. I would agree that I think he wants a change of pace.

daveirl

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