Former All Black Jerry Collins and his partner have died in a tragic car crash in France.
Collins and Alana Madill died instantly in the incident in the south of France. Their three-month-old baby, Ayla, is in a critical condition after being airlifted to a hospital in Montpellier.
The New Zealand Embassy in Paris confirmed the details.
Respected French newspaper Le Figaro said the accident occurred at 4.30am local time on the A9 in the French region of Herault.
The circumstances around the accident remain unclear.
Collins played 48 tests for the All Blacks including three tests as captain; against Argentina in 2006 and Portugal and Romania in 2007.
He also played eight seasons with the Hurricanes and amassed 47 provincial caps for Wellington dating back to 1999.
Collins signed a deal with second division French club Narbonne in January having not played rugby since finishing up with Japanese club Yamaha two years ago. In the years in between he worked in the security industry in Canada.
Collins was taken on as medical cover for Australian Rocky Elsom.
Narbonne president Anthony Hill said the club searched around the world to find a player who was not tied down to a contract with another club and found that the 48-test All Black was the best option.
"We looked for a hard back-row," said Hill.
"From near and far, the best forward on the market at that time of the year is Jerry, and the fact that he has signed with us is a great boost for the team."
Collins played for French glamour club Toulon in the 2008-09 season.
In 2013 he was arrested in the Japanese industrial city of Hamamatsu after being found carrying two knives at a city department store.
He paid a $1900 fine, was released and returned to New Zealand.
PROFILE
Full name: Jerry Collins
Born: November, 4 1980 in Apia, Samoa (aged 34)
School: St Patrick's College, Wellington
All Black debut: Saturday, June 23 2001 vs Argentina at Christchurch (aged 20 years, 231 days)
Last All Black test: Saturday, October 6 2007 vs France at Cardiff (aged 26 years, 336 days)
All Black tests: 48 (including three as captain)
All Black number: 1002
Caps:
Wellington: 47 (1999- 2007)
Hurricanes: 85 (from 2001-2008)
Toulon (France): 22 (2008-09)
Ospreys (Wales): 56 (2009-2011)
Yamaha Jubilo (Japan): 2011-2013
Narbonne (France): 2015-
Source: Stuff.co.nz
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